For the team of trainers Edwin de Wijs and Joonas Kolkka, the regional derby against Willem II/RKC C1 was on the schedule today. A match between two teams that are in partial 2nd place, behind leaders Feyenoord. Willem II, however, still has a catch-up game to play. And so it was up to PSV to keep the 3 points in Eindhoven. And that could be a difficult task. If you look at Willem II's goal difference, you immediately see where their strengths/weaknesses lie. After 8 games, the team from Tilburg had a goal difference of 11 for and only 6 against. Three times they won 1-0 and once they won 2-1. In addition, of the 11 goals, they scored three in the absolute closing stages. Scoreboard journalism perhaps, but still good to know such figures.
Right from kickoff, PSV started brightly. Already after half a minute of play this led to the first goal with a shot by Matthias Verreth. PSV put pressure early, and did not let the Tilburgers come from their own half. Not entirely unexpectedly, PSV quickly took the lead. An attack on the left was redirected via Matthias to the right flank where Joey Konings received the ball, came inside and with his strong left leg shot the ball into the top left corner! What a helluva goal! And nice for Joey who last week totally wrongly saw a goal of his disallowed.
PSV's strong opening gave the players confidence and courage. Through fine defensive work they were not in danger and in attack one attack after another rolled across the mat. The only thing the team could be blamed for in this phase was not rewarding themselves with a second and even third goal. Through Joey, Matthias, Karim and Lennerd, PSV could have extended the score further. Just before halftime the 2nd goal seemed to come. A free kick from about 25 meters was shot hard at goal by Matthias, but the fingertips of the fine goalkeeper of Willem II and the crossbar prevented a second goal. The ensuing corner was headed hard in by Joey but again via the hands of the keeper and the crossbar the ball disappeared over the goal.
The question in the second half was whether PSV could keep the high level. And whether Willem II would not strike again in the closing stages. Because with a margin of 1 goal and knowing that they already scored several times in the final phase of a game, it was be careful then. Although the level dropped a little, and Willem II were able to play a little more, PSV also had enough chances and opportunities in the second half to put the game away for good. But again the PSV players failed to find the net. In injury time it was Willem II who, out of nowhere, almost scored the equalizer. A back pass was not handled well at the back, and that gave the Tilburg striker the opportunity to score the equalizer three times. Fortunately, goalkeeper Mike van de Meulenhof was able to prevent the equalizer. The resulting corner brought some pressure. Partly because the Tilburg goalkeeper came forward, but it did not become dangerous. After which the referee immediately called it quits and PSV deservedly kept the 3 points in Eindhoven.
A fine first half by PSV, a slightly lesser second half, but over 70 minutes a very good game and rightly the winner.


Mike van de Meulenhof; Ymanuel Hurkmans, Kaan Tanriver, Tom Scheepers ©, Roel van Linschoten; Dante Rigo, Lennerd Daneels, Jaëll Hattu; Joey Konings, Matthias Verreth, Karim Bannani (67' Ertem Bölükbas)