The last game before the winter break was scheduled this weekend. Opponent: MVV. The club from the city of a strange mayor, carnival, coffee shops and of course "us-MVV'ke. The team that was responsible for PSV C1's first point loss by playing 1-1 at home in a memorable match. Memorable because both teams ended the match with 9 men. PSV because they ran out of substitutes and two players were injured. MVV because two players were sent off with red cards.

The game in Maastricht showed that MVV had a physically strong team that lurked on the counter and mistakes by the opponent. It was up to the Eindhoven team to start the game with concentration and to stay focused until the final whistle.

Even though it is mid-December, the sun was shining, the temperature was more than acceptable and there was hardly any wind. Add to that the fact that the artificial turf looked good with nice short "grass", all the ingredients were there for a good game of football.

However, the visitors were disappointed in the early stages. The game was messy from both sides. MVV played with 2 tough guys up front, clearly gambling via long balls on their physical advantages. PSV did try, but it still ran a bit sluggishly. In addition, it failed to put MVV at an early disadvantage. For in the 6th minute, Yasin Aalillou, with a slick pass, put the through Justin Lonwijk face to face with the Maastricht goalkeeper. He chose to lob, but waited just a bit too long. In addition, his lob lacked momentum and height so the goalkeeper could easily pluck the ball out of the air.

A few minutes later Justin was again close to scoring the opening goal. A long cross from left winger Remco Evenepoel ended up at the far post where Yasin headed the ball back to Justin who was unlucky that his effort was blocked.

Still, PSV deservedly took the lead. Justin was at the base of a new attack. He played the ball into Leandro Fernandes, who with a sensitive cross set Gaetan Bosiers free in front of the goal. With his 'chocolate right leg', which he only uses for stepping, Gaetan finished in a controlled manner. This was not only the important first goal, but also the first goal for Gaetan in PSV jersey in an official match!

PSV started to play more freely after this goal. And was close to the second goal when a Leandro streak was cleverly defused by the MVV goalkeeper. MVV were still watching out for the opportunistic play, which in the 25th minute was even allowed to take an indirect free kick from close range after the referee judged a cross that Gaetan changed direction and was picked up by goalkeeper Arne Lekens to be a deliberately played back pass. Fortunately, the ball disappeared into the wall and the danger was so quickly contained.

Just before halftime, PSV extended its lead to 2-0 when Cody Gakpo was on hand to mercilessly punish defensive lapses by MVV. Because Arne Lekens reacted well to an MVV shot in the final minute, the team went into the locker room with a 2-0 score.

At the start of the second half, the sun had disappeared and a fresh breeze was blowing. And for some obscure reason, this had its impact on both teams. PSV wanted to, but failed to make a breach in the Maastricht defense. MVV also wanted to, but lacked quality to make things difficult for PSV. So the match dragged on. And although it did not run like a well-oiled machine, PSV had chances and opportunities to put the game away for good. It was also unlucky that the referee did not see anything in a foul committed by an MVV defender who touched Leandro inside the infamous lines.

After Cody almost put defender James Fofana free in front of the goal (unfortunately the goalkeeper was also quick to leave his goal), he scored the 3-0 in the 49th minute. Yasin broke through on the left this time and delivered the ball to Cody, who then finished beautifully, putting his 12th goal of the season on the board.

In the last 20 minutes we did not find the net again (although Cody was whistled back for offside). Both teams still came close: PSV after a quick attack via Baggio Wallenburg and Cody and a double one-two between the two of them led to a hard shot by the latter did narrowly miss the goalkeeper. And MVV was dangerous twice more. But Arne, as in many other matches, kept his goal clean again.

So the last game of 2013 ended in a big, deserved victory for PSV C1 (coached today by trainer Joonas Kolkka). And it remains exciting for the title between the Rotterdam teams Feyenoord andSparta Rotterdam and PSV.

Remains for me to wish all players, parents and further family, staff, other followers and involved Happy Holidays and a super good, healthy and above all happy 2014!


Arne Lekens; Baggio Wallenburg, James Fofana (56' Davy van den Berg), Lars Dickens, Jordan Teze; Gaetan Bosiers, Leandro Fernandes (51' Gregory Kuisch) , Justin Lonwijk (c); Yasin Aalillou, Cody Gakpo, Remco Evenepoel (35' Benjamin Kailie).