In preparation for the new season, the D2 participated in a two-day D1 tournament in Vorden in the first week. This in the absence of our D1 who stayed in South Korea. PSV met Bayern Leverkusen in the semi-finals after winning the group stage. PSV offered fierce resistance in this match, but had to capitulate half a minute before half-time after a corner kick. In the second half, Leverkusen made the year's difference clear and eventually won 3-0. In the small final, FC Copenhagen was even fitter than our boys. Copenhagen won this match 3-0 so that an honorable 4th place still remained, still ahead of the other Dutch team including Feijenoord, Twente and Vitesse.
A week later the Top D tournament in Maasbree was on the program. PSV faced in the pool Schalke, Club Brugge, Chelsea, Regioteam and AZ Alkmaar. After a good start, a 1-0 victory against Schalke, Club Brugge was the opponent in the 2nd match. In an exciting match, PSV had three good opportunities to take the lead before halftime. Nevertheless, Club Brugge took a 1-0 lead in the second half. PSV got a few more good opportunities to equalize, but a good Brugge goalkeeper proved to be a stand in the way. So the second match is lost 1-0. In the third match our boys meet none other than Chelsea. In a difficult opening phase where PSV seems somewhat impressed, Chelsea takes the lead through a penalty kick. PSV throws off the trepidation and seems to score the equalizer. However, this is disallowed for incomprehensible reasons. In the 2nd half, PSV came alongside so that the 3rd match ended in a draw. After victories over the regional team and AZ, the match depends on the results of Brugge and Chelsea. However, these make no mistakes so PSV has to take on Zenit St.Petersburg for the 5th and 6th place. In this match, a stronger PSV falls behind 2-0 against the odds. PSV fights back to 2-2 after which PSV has to score the winning goal in the last minute. Unfortunately, the bar is in the way, so it comes down to penalty kicks. Zenit proved to be the stronger side, leaving a 6th place and a bitter aftertaste. Given the chances, more could have been possible, but as so often it comes down to the details.
Last week a mini-tournament was scheduled with VVV and MVV. These matches were won by PSV 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. But all this beforehand.
So today is the league start in Hardinxveen. Kickoff has been brought forward to 10:15 a.m. so most will be up before 7:00. The trainers immediately make their offensive intentions clear by starting with a 3-man rearguard. After a slow start, PSV gets better into the game without going to great lengths. After the first skirmishes in front of the Hardinxveen goal, Davy finally broke the spell and put the 1-0 on the scoreboard. When Joop later spooned the ball over the goalkeeper, the 2-0 was a fact. Again, the PSV defense gave little or nothing away, so Edson and Kyan did not have to get their gloves dirty. Even before half time Remco made it 3-0, so the supporters were already thinking of San Marino scores. In terms of field superiority and chances, this should have been a possibility. When Yassin scores 4-0 and 5-0 soon after halftime, things suddenly start moving fast. The production then seems to stall. It takes a while for the 6th goal to come. Since there were no post-match interviews, it is not clear who gets the 6th goal. In any case, it was either Joop or Sem who tapped it in. A period of good opportunities begins. Thus, Sem and Bryan come alone in front of the goalkeeper, but he defuses the goal attempts. After a corner, Joop, who was the smallest player on the field, hit the crossbar. It is only Remco who finally scores a goal. But he does this in a beautiful way, by shooting it into the crossbar from distance. So the first game is in the pocket with a 7-0 victory. Let's just say "a good start is half the battle".