PSV comfortably recorded their seventh Eredivisie win in a row. Phillip Cocu’s team put on a convincing display to secure a 3-0 victory against N.E.C. in Nijmegen on Sunday afternoon. They are top of the Dutch league, one point above second-placed Ajax. Luuk de Jong set up a new record, as his side scored at least one goal in fifty consecutive Eredivisie games.
Willems turned provider for De Jong
The hosts started well and PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet made himself big to deny Joey Sleegers. PSV soon reasserted themselves and opened the scoring on 17 minutes. Davy Pröpper won the ball in midfield and Luuk de Jong headed home a superb cross from Jetro Willems, who lived up to his reputation as King of the Assists: 0-1. Jorit Hendrix was taken off in the 24th minute following a second-minute challenge by Marcel Ritzmaier, on loan from PSV, and Stijn Schaars came off the bench to replace him. PSV were seeing plenty of the ball and an effort from Santiago Arias was tipped over by N.E.C. shot stopper Brad Jones at full stretch. PSV dominated in the midfield battle, but were struggling to hurt N.E.C. The home side was not knocking on the door but Zoet was again called into action to stop Sleegers’ effort.
Jorrit Hendrix was taken off, following a challenge by Marcel Ritzmaier | © Pics United
Locadia and Van Ginkel scored second-half goals
As the sleet came down, PSV had an energetic start to the second half. Locadia all but doubled the lead on 52 minutes, but Jones somehow managed to gather his effort. Four minutes later, Luciano Narsingh had a golden opportunity to extend PSV’s advantage but again N.E.C. had their keeper to thank for keeping the score to only 0-1. PSV wanted to deliver the sucker punch to N.E.C’s hopes but did not take their chances. Phillip Cocu’s team eventually did double their lead in the 67th minute. De Jong flicked on Willems’ corner and Jürgen Locadia was on hand to head home at the far post: 0-2. PSV were all over the place and were up to 3-0 in the 76th minute, when Marco van Ginkel was at the end of a well-worked move, tapping home the easiest of finishes: 0-3. Jeffrey Bruma replaced Jetro Willems with eleven minutes remaining. Cocu made his final change on 83 minutes, bringing on Florian Jozefzoon for Narsingh as PSV comfortably recorded their seventh Eredivisie win in a row. PSV are top of the table with 56 points, one point above Ajax who beat FC Groningen 1-2 earlier on the day. The gap with third-placed Heracles is sixteen points.
Jürgen Locadia doubled PSV’s lead on 67 minutes| © Pics United