This weekend the 3rd league match was already scheduled. In the shadow of the Goffertstadion, the still unbeaten team of trainers Edwin de Wijs, assistant Eric Addo and trainee Vincent Heilmann took on NEC.
The Nijmegen team had 3 points after 2 rounds. Quick calculators then immediately know that this can only mean one defeat and one win.
PSV on the other hand had convincingly come through the first 2 matches without losing a point. However, it had fallen behind in every match so far. It would be nice for the team to be able to keep "the zero" at the back again.
The first opportunity was for PSV. A corner by Mohamed Ihattaren ended up at the far post, causing a lot of commotion. NEC was able to clear the ball just in time.
In the 7th minute, PSV got away well when the defense failed to clear the ball. NEC's effort hit the post via Jurre Schaafsma's fingertips and then back into the field.
What followed was a messy game in which NEC was well grouped. It was razor-sharp in the duels and played with heart. As a result, PSV struggled. It struggled to get through the ball and create chances.
Not surprisingly, PSV needed a stoppage time situation to take the lead. A free kick in the 12th minute from captain Damian Timan landed at the 2nd post where the tall Nijmegen goalkeeper made an error of judgement and let the ball run. Not knowing that Shurandy Sambo came forward like a jack-in-the-box and tapped the ball in from almost the back line: 0-1.
The first time this season that the Eindhoven formation managed to take the lead!
However, it could not enjoy the lead for long. NEC got a corner in the 15th minute. This was preceded by a situation identical to NAC's opening1sgoal last week: a deep ball falling between the last man and the goalkeeper. And where the goalkeeper comes out and the defender kicks the ball back. Last week the ball rolled into the empty goal. Now it went just wide resulting in the corner. This was poorly defended as an NEC player was free to head the ball in.
Also after these goals it remained messy and both teams could create few chances. PSV tried through Damian Timan and Mathijs Bel from distance. But were not yet successful.
In the final minute of the first half, NEC even took the lead. Again, the goal was the result of a stationary situation. While at first the ball was still defended, the 2nd ball was again for NEC and ended up on PSV's right flank where a player shot the ball into the far corner.
PSV knew what it had to do in the 2nd half to avoid losing points: step up and be sharper. It also had possession of the ball for the most part but did not contain the capacity today to open up the tight-knit NEC defense.
There was little more than a blocked shot from Yorbe Vertessen and the threat of free kicks. The pressure on NEC increased in the final stages, but there was a lack of sharpness and finesse to at least earn a draw.
NEC also had one chance in the second half, created by a PSV back. NEC also failed to find the net in the second half, making the score at halftime 2-1.
PSV lost points for the first time this season. Maybe next time we should get behind first....
Jurre Schaafsma; Mees Kreekels (47' Lars Koolen), Shurandy Sambo, Elgero King (42' Beslan Sagov), Jochem van Dijk; Mathijs Bel, Dennis Vos (55' Stijn van der Put), Damian Timan (c); Mo Ihattaren, Yorbe Vertessen, Thijs Martens (47' Dani Mathieu).