After last week's magnificent cup victory over Feyenoord, this weekend the league match against Willem II was scheduled. Strangely enough, the last match before the league was also against Willem II at the end of January. The result of that game was 1-1 after both goals came from penalties. PSV played a large part of the match with 10 men after goalkeeper Arne Lekens was sent off with a red card.
Within a minute Arne was in danger of having to leave the field again. After kicking a ball away, he was injured. Fortunately, he was able to continue playing.
PSV quickly took the lead. In the 2nd minute, Amar Catiç scored the 0-1 with a fabulous header. The beautiful attack that preceded this was set up by Sekou Sidibe, who first gatecrashed a Willem II player in the center circle and then passed the ball to Justin Lonwijk. He then played the ball well to Amar, who moved to the left. Amar performed a couple of feints as if he was competing in the Winter Olympics in Sochi. At breakneck speed he thundered through the Tilburg rearguard and made it to the back line. His cross landed in a forest of legs and from the "pinball situation" the ball suddenly landed near Amar who with a majestic movement "chopped" the ball behind the goalkeeper. What a matchless start in a traditionally difficult game for PSV.
Barely a few minutes later, Leandro Fernandes sent Amar deep, returning to his familiar right flank. But unfortunately his high cross was plucked by the goalkeeper just in front of the head of striker Cody Gakpo. Who then quickly put the Willem II striker to work with a far out kick. Fortunately, Abou Kone was able to contain the danger at the cost of a corner.
After 18 minutes of play, PSV doubled the lead. Leandro picked up the ball midway through the Willem II half and played it wide to the accompanying Amar, who scored the 0-2 with a well-aimed slide. A well-deserved lead for the technically better team from Eindhoven that adapted best to the circumstances. Besides a strong wind, the field was lousy and bumpy. I even heard that the field is being considered as a training ground for the Dutch Mogulsky team....
Soon after the second Eindhoven goal, PSV swooned when from one of the Tilburg outbursts the striker hit the post in a promising position. Moments later, Arne had to save a dangerous Willem II free kick. But PSV continued to dictate the game and came close to scoring 0-3 on a number of occasions. Before half time the net was not found.
In the second half, Willem II applied more pressure and PSV struggled. A free kick from 17 meters went past the wall and in the 44th minute Abou Kone had to save on the goal line. When PSV finally got back to playing football and thought seriously about an attack, it was an instant hit. A one-two between Baggio Wallenburg and Cody Gakpo put the latter in a good position. His effort was blocked, but Willem II was unable to get the ball out of play and it ended up with Sekou. He did not hit the ball full on, but enough to beat the keeper in the short corner: 0-3.
Match played you would say. And so it was. PSV was close to scoring the fourth goal several times. Especially Leandro was unfortunate in finishing. First his shot went past the keeper but a defender could save with some luck. Not much later the little toe of the goalkeeper was able to save. Cody also hit the Tilburg goalkeeper in the closing stages of the game and the match seemed to end in a simple 0-3 victory. Deep into injury time, however, Willem II managed to save the honor. A free kick from 17 meters was tapped by Arne, but ended up back in the field via the post after which a following Willem II player could easily score: 1-3.
Too bad about the goal, but a compliment to the team is in order today. Especially considering the fact that 2 players from the D1 and one from the C2 started in the starting line-up today. In addition, two players from the C2 filled in. The three points deservedly went to Eindhoven, with which, after today's loss to frontrunner Sparta, it is back in the title race.
Arne Lekens; Baggio Wallenburg, Aboubacar Kone, Gaétan Bosiers, Jordan Teze; Davy van den Berg (57' Tijn Daverveld), Leandro Fernandes, Justin Lonwijk (c); Amar Catiç, Cody Gakpo, Sekou Sidibe (61' Remco Evenepoel).
Yellow card: Gaétan Bosiers (holding opponent)