The report

PSV's O14 had to visit leader FC Utrecht on Saturday. The home game was won by PSV, so the expectations were very high. PSV knew that Utrecht had much more physical power and that they should be able to beat this opponent on the football. The match showed exactly what was expected. A physically very strong Utrecht, against a good footballing PSV. It was an exciting match. Both sides will be satisfied with the 1-1 result.

FC Utrecht started the match well, or was it PSV that was afraid of so much physical opposition? In the first minute it was goalkeeper Bart Hamers who managed to narrow his goal well, and only just managed to work the ball behind. A few minutes later, Utrecht did score. The Utrecht striker got one on one with Bart, but Bart had no answer to this, so PSV was soon behind. After this, PSV threw off all fear and played their way back into the match. This resulted in the equalizer in the 15th minute. It was Renzo Tytens who sent in a perfect cross from the sideline. Tim van de Heuvel managed to put the ball behind the Utrecht goalkeeper. After this the game went back and forth at a high pace. Jason van Duiven tried his luck with two free kicks but the Utrecht goalkeeper would not cooperate and was always in the right place.

In the second half the same picture as in the first half. A physical Utrecht that played on the edge of the permissible, against a footballing PSV. As the second half progressed PSV started to play the long ball too much. Because Utrecht also tried to use the long ball, the game went up and down. PSV got away well a few times. Even the post helped PSV. However, neither team scored anymore. More than a draw was not possible for either team.

PSV did show again that they can compete in the top games. They also know how to cope well with physical resistance. This promises to be a great league final, in which the top five teams are certainly evenly matched. Next week PSV O14 plays a friendly match against KV Mechelen on Tuesday. Then there is a Saturday off, after which they pick up the thread against another top team Feyenoord. PSV has something to put right here, so that promises to be another great match.

Lineup PSV: Hamers, Hagemans (59. El Melliani), Rovers, Boogaard, Tytens, Geerts ( 48 Vergeldt), vd Heuvel, Piedfort, v. Duiven, Bars ( 57 Rhazak), Babadi.