Too little
After an initial gathering at the Herdgang, an hour later we are in MVV's cozy home at Klein Geusselt. The parents are well represented and the Belgian grandparents are also in attendance again. So it is soon enough with the mothers on one side of the table and the fathers on the other.
Everyone enjoyed Kemal's coffee for Hus' birthday. Sitting in the middle of the table (with the fathers but not far away from the mothers, always a nice spot I think) I soon learn that plans for the end of the season are being made today (not by the fathers but I don't really need to say that). Sharon comes up with a nice plan for a barbecue and Holland-Japan on June 19; I can already see that this is going to work out well. Jolanda is also joining us (not with the fathers, but do I have to repeat that?) and with my ears pricked up I hear noises here and there about an outing within x hours of Eindhoven, but could it also be a flight? Unfortunately, I can't hear it very well due to the increasingly heated football conversation on the fathers' side, so this remains a bit of a secret.
As reporter of the day, I rush to the field 5 minutes before time. Oh well, they have just come out of the locker room, I hear behind me. But when I arrive at the artificial turf, the match is already about to start. And how, PSV flashes out of the starting blocks. A number of chances in a row, and at the third chance within a single minute it is Cody after a nice cross from Jordan who heads in the 1-0. Slowly MVV starts to get into the game but it is soon Robin who taps in the 2-0 from a free kick.
Out of the corner of my eye I see the PSV supporters entering the field, chatting amiably. Of course it can get too cozy; I have to issue a warning.
A great start but as followers of the D3 we know, beautiful periods alternate with less beautiful ones. A 2-0 lead; locking it up at the back is not yet in the cards for our boys (and that makes it nice of course).
MVV a little pale around the nose but they don't let themselves be beaten. Combining well they got into the game and regularly appeared dangerous for Arne. At the back we were in good shape; our wing defenders Baggio and Björn were focused and also made their mark in the attack. Chances for MVV but it is PSV D3 who gets the bigger chances. But the chances do not go in; Jordan comes close but hits the bar. At the other end it was MVV who managed to score the tying goal through a nice combination.
At half-time the boys are ready to start again, but the referee is a bit tired from the first half. When the otherwise excellent referee is there again, the second half can begin. With anxious anticipation it must be said. The wind that blew wonderfully at the back in the first half is now blowing against the PSV players. The line-up changed with a new attack: all-rounder Ruud on the left, Roland striker and Huseyin on the right. The MVV players have to adjust to this revamped forward line and the D3 comes up dangerously a number of times and we get some nice chances to put a safer 3-1 on the scoreboard. Unfortunately we do not manage the safer margin.
Stan manages to parry dangerous high balls time and time again but then .... a combination through the middle and the ball tightly angled into the corner. Unstoppable the 2-2. A cross from Robin to Ruud could still mean 3-2 for PSV, but Ruud comes just a centimeter too short to head the ball into the goal. And then of course at the other end, an identical goal actually for MVV to the previous one and 3-2 for MVV.
Unfortunately, it stays that way and MVV wins this sporting and exciting match. Surely we all felt that the boys deserved a draw given the ratio of chances, but MVV jumped more efficiently with the chances today.
Report with thanks to Hans Bosma