The report
Today the cracker was scheduled between Ajax O19 and PSV O19. At a packed Sportpark De Toekomst, John Heitinga or Mark van Bommel's boys could take an important step towards a possible title.
The first chance of the match was for the home team after 3 minutes of play, a shot went a few meters past Mike van de Meulenhof's goal. After this, the chances turned in PSV's favor. In the 7th and 11th minutes, it was Joël Piroe who was close to a goal. A nose length (to head the ball in) and the fingertips of the Ajax goalkeeper stood in the way of a goal. In the 23rd minute, Robin Schoonbrood laid a free kick on the head of Justin Lonwijk, but he headed the ball against the goalkeeper from close range. Two minutes later it was Baggio Wallenburg who dribbled up from the center line and played to the free Zakaria Aboukhlal. The latter rounded his opponent and took a devastating shot from the edge of the sixteen meters. The ball whirled into the far corner. At that moment a deserved lead for PSV. Not much later, it was Van de Meulenhof who whipped a header from close range out of his goal with a good reflex. And so in the 32nd minute Ajax had another good opportunity. A deep ball fell exactly between the PSV defenders, but the Ajax striker shot the ball high over, face to face with Van de Meulenhof. In the 34th minute, the Ajax left back had to pull the emergency brake again and received his second yellow card. He was allowed to leave for the dressing room. PSV got away well in the 37th minute. An Ajax free kick hit the post. Two more PSV opportunities followed in the 43rd minute, one for Piroe and one for Tijn Daverveld. Only the PSV defender forgot to shoot himself and played the ball wide. The incoming players just couldn't reach the ball, so we went to rest with a 1-0 lead.
PSV O19 picked up the thread after the break. It was Amar Catic who outplayed his opponent on the back line in the 47th minute, laying the ball back to Lonwijk but his effort was turned away by the goalkeeper. In the rebound it was Catic who worked the ball in, only according to the assistant referee in an offside position. Yet Ajax also became dangerous with ten men. In the 56th minute, the striker shot the ball over the goal after a good attack. PSV, however, continued to play strong and focused. In the 59th minute, Michal Sadilek sent Catic away, Piroe tapped his cross onto the post. After a short corner between Sadilek and Schoonbrood, Maxime Soulas headed just over in the 64th inute. Fifteen minutes before time it was another Ajax player who had to pull the emergency brake and could leave the field with his second yellow card. In the 83rd minute it was Bertalan Kun who outplayed his opponent and placed the ball over the goalkeeper from 30 meters. The ball landed on the roof of the goal. PSV forgot to pull the trigger and so Ajax still held out hope with long balls forward. Yet in injury time came the liberating goal for PSV. It was Catic who ran on to the goalkeeper, who shot against him, allowing him to score the 0-2. A nice victory for Mark van Bommel's boys, who now have everything in their own hands four games before the end. The next match is Wednesday, May 9 at 16.00 against ADO Den Haag (catch-up).
Lineup PSV O19: Van de Meulenhof, Wallenburg, Daverveld, Soulas, Theunissen, Sadilek, Aboukhal (89, Oostenbrink), Schoonbrood (75, Kun), Piroe, Lonwijk (71, Van den berg) and Catic .
Photo report
Click here to see the photo album with photos by Paula Lenting