PSV maintained their hold on second place in the Eredivisie table with a 3-1 win over Vitesse in the Philips Stadion on Sunday afternoon. Roger Schmidt’s team came back from a goal down to claim victory, thanks to the substitutes Donyell Malen, who netted an equaliser, and Mario Götze who struck twice in the final five minutes.
Five changes
Schmidt made wholesale changes, introducing five new players to the starting XI but even more surprising was the introduction of a new 5-3-2 system. With Philipp Max, Jordan Teze, Ryan Thomas, Mario Götze and Donyell Malen on the bench, PSV had a shocking start and were a goal down after three minutes’ play. Eli Dasa provided the cross and Armando Broja put the visitors from Arnhem ahead: 0-1.
Sloppy first half
The first half was a sloppy affair, with both teams producing plenty of inaccurate passes, errors and missed chances. It was miraculously still 0-1 when the half-time whistle went. Eran Zahavi and Yorbe Vertessen wasted good chances. Broja had a gilt-edged chance to double Vitesse’s lead but hit the post with the goal at his mercy. Just before the break Vitesse won a penalty but VAR had seen that the foul was committed just outside the box and the referee changed his mind. Yvon Mvogo saved the free kick well and Oussama Tannane rattled the post from the rebound.
Changes
Schmidt made two half-time changes, bringing on Donyell Malen and Philipp Max and also fell back on the familiar 4-2-2-2 system. Eran Zahavi went close to scoring an equaliser when Denzel Dumfries played him in, but Bazoer blocked his effort. It was Donyell Malen who levelled for PSV in the 66th minute. Eran Zahavi turned provider and Malen struck with a low first-time shot that left Vitesse keeper Remko Pasveer with no chance: 1-1.
Götze seals victory with a late brace
Zahavi and striker partner Malen had chances to give PSV the lead but Pasveeer pulled off a string of saves to deny them. It was another substitute who broke the deadlock. With four minutes remaining, Mario Götze, who had replaced Yorbe Vertessen in the 64th minute, cleverly deflected Malen’s low cross and the German was again on target two minutes later, tapping home from close range Ryan Thomas’ inch perfect cross: 3-1.
