'Finally really getting back into it against E-boys'
It is clear that our boys lack challenge in the regular F competition. But does that automatically mean they belong in the E-competition? Today a nice test case to find the answer against Hercules from Utrecht. The F1 of PSV faced a combination of the E2 and E3 of this strong Utrecht club in a friendly game.
From the start it was unmistakable that this opponent was of a different caliber than the opponents of recent weeks. A heavy hailstorm just before the match blanketed the artificial turf within minutes. While our little men sought shelter in the locker room, the big men from Utrecht heroically stayed on the field.
In the match, the tempo from the start was higher than the boys have been used to lately, the coverage was shorter, and these opponents seemed unimpressed by the technical abilities of the one to two years younger PSV players. Even though PSV had the upper hand from the start in the build-up, after 10 minutes it was still 0-2 for Hercules.
When Hercules broke out, it was clear that longer legs came in handy. A corner against showed how difficult it is to win a defensive duel when your opponent is a head taller. Hercules managed to exploit that advantage. PSV clearly still had to find an answer to this different type of game.
An exciting moment arrived. What would this deficit do to the boys?
The answer came quickly: the deficit made the boys brighter and sharper. It didn't take long for Nigel to score from a corner with one of his now famous headers. Shortly afterwards Matthijs made it 2-2 after a short but impressive solo. With that score the break started.
After the break PSV showed no respect for the big boys. With great confidence they rained down the beautiful attacks with the whole team. Their chances hit the post twice in quick succession, but another goal was inevitable. Matthijs took care of the lead 3-2 and also completed the 4-2. Nigel scored the 5-2 immediately after.
The 6-2 came to the name of 'big Mo' but the whole team was involved in the beautiful build-up to this goal.
A nice lesson came immediately after: a little nonchalance may be possible in the F's, but not if you want to compete with the big boys. Hercules immediately took advantage of this and scored 6-3. With a super save Robin managed to prevent the 6-4.
The warnings had arrived: PSV did not relinquish the initiative anymore and added 2 more goals to the total making the final score 8-3.
On the last goal the 'cross' came from goalkeeper Robin who had to come out of his goal at the last minute. He managed to convert that intervention almost directly into a goal on the other side. His 'cross' was tapped in by Mo.
The boys were delighted afterwards. Not only because they won, but maybe even more because this was a really good football match in which they could and had to show what they were worth.
A short video of the match can be seen via this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb8Dn8Kn93A