AZ confirms positions in rankings

PSV had to admit defeat to AZ on Saturday in a direct encounter at Herdgang. A great opportunity to polish off the blamage of a week earlier in Volendam, but although AZ were able to keep up in the scoring for quite some time, the guests proved to be a step further in development over the entire match both individually and in terms of team.

PSV struggled defensively in the first half to get a grip on AZ's style of play, which took the lead as early as the ^8th minute after a fine long-range shot from 20 yards. The team found a good answer to that first. Fifteen minutes later, Dylan enabled Milan, who was free in front of the goal, to easily tap in the equalizer, 1-1. Shortly thereafter, however, PSV totally gave away the achieved balance in the space of a few minutes due to two personal mistakes. In the 25th minute, Jules, alerted by the 0-1, was unable to control a long-distance shot, after which one of the Alkmaar strikers rushed in attentively and shot the 1-2. Less than three minutes later, central defender Jenson went completely wrong when he misjudged a deep ball, giving an Alkmaar striker free passage to the goal, outmaneuvering goalkeeper Jules and sliding in the 1-3. The goalie, who also wrongly blamed himself for this goal, then saved PSV with some excellent saves in 1-on-1 situations, allowing PSV to score the important tying goal shortly before halftime. With another assist from Dylan, this time from a corner, Jenson superbly headed the 2-3 into the ropes.

Although PSV seemed to get into the game better early in the second half, AZ convincingly put an end to Eindhoven's faith in the 60th minute. Again with a placed distance shot, the Alkmaarders brought the margin back to two goals, 2-4. Just two minutes later, the O16 had an excellent chance to reduce the score again when the Alkmaar goalkeeper ran Milan upside down. The striker took the awarded penalty himself, but without the away conviction so the goalkeeper barely had to stretch and stopped the penalty kick. After a few more chances back and forth, including a 100% chance by Milan after a good move by Ilyas, AZ decided the final score in the 73rd minute with an away goal at 2-5.

All in all, a loss against a better AZ. Although the schedule suggests that PSV is facing a free weekend, nothing could be further from the truth. Saturday the away match against Vitesse is scheduled at 14:30. PSV will have to do without Deveron, who broke his wrist during a game after the match against Volendam last week and will be out of action for a few weeks. Get well Deveron!

Setup:
Jules Janssen; D'Leanu Arts - Jenson Seelt - Mylian Jimenez © - Nawaaz Landveld; Naïm Matoug ('65 Mo Nassoh) - Cel Teunen ('41 Jesse Giebels) - Dylan Hopman; Jasper Huijzer ('54 Dyon Dorenbosch) - Milan van de Riet - Ilyas Bougafer.