The report
The first topper was on the program for PSV O15 in the sixth league round. Ajax came to visit De Herdgang. PSV shared the lead with 13 out of 5, Ajax had gained 10 points from the first five rounds, although it is fair to say that on paper they had encountered tougher opponents. In the battle for the Super Cup, coach Edwin de Wijs' team lost 2-1 to the Amsterdammers. What would it be now in Eindhoven?
The home club started furiously. After two minutes it already had two good chances to score the opening goal. First Milan van de Riet headed a ball just wide, after a fine cross from Dylan Hopman. Moments later the Ajax goalkeeper saved the Amsterdammers from falling behind when he was just able to turn Martijn Zuijderwijk's shot into a corner with his fingertips. However, it was Ajax that opened the scoring after 15 minutes of play. After a player fell over the outstretched leg of Nawaaz Landfeld, he was awarded a penalty that was converted into the 0-1. PSV threatened again immediately after the kickoff, but again the home team failed to score. Ajax did in the 29th minute. The referee saw no foul on a PSV player in midfield, after which Ajax played the ball deep to the striker, who then scored the 0-2. PSV was knocked out of the game and after stupid ball loss in midfield, Ajax struck again just before the halftime signal: 0-3.
With that, the match seemed to be played. But PSV recovered admirably and turned the second half into a real game. After two unused opportunities, Milan scored the 1-3 in the 41st minute on a pass from Martijn. And when eight minutes later, after a corner by Martijn, Jesse Giebels headed in the 2-3, the game was wide open again. PSV almost scored the equalizer in the 56th minute, but Milan was unable to add sufficient momentum and direction to his header, which rolled just wide. A minute later, PSV goalkeeper Aron van Lare was able to get the ball out of the net when the home team failed to clear a corner and the ball ended up at the feet of an Ajax player who scored the 2-4. After Ajax saw another shot go just wide, Dylan had a chance to make the final minutes really exciting. His roller went just wide of the wrong side of the post to make it 2-4.
A sour defeat, but what the Eindhoven team showed in the 2nd half offers enough perspective for the rest of the league. We just have to hang on to that.
Setup: Aron van Lare (c); D'Leanu Arts, Nawaaz Landfeld, Jesse Giebels, Deveron Fonville; Dylan Hopman, Mylian Jimenez, Mohamed Nassoh (46' Jenson Seelt); Martijn Zuijderwijk, Milan van de Riet, Dyon Dorenbosch (54' Cel Teunen).
Yellow card: Nawaaz Landfeld