The report

This league match did not start until 3:30 p.m., on the warm artificial gas in the Zaan region. For PSV, AZ is always a stiff opponent anyway, so it was important for Mark van Bommel's boys to start the match sharp and focused.

And so it did, PSV started strongly with beautiful combination football and they put AZ well under pressure in the early stages. Only no real opportunities arose. In the ^28th minute it was Baggio Wallenburg who took the ball on his slipper after a deflected corner kick. Unfortunately it was too busy in the penalty area and was cleared off the goal line. Then it was Amar Catic who went on an adventure in the 35th minute. But his shot was blocked by a sliding tackle. In the first half, PSV had the best of the game, but did not really get into promising positions.

PSV O19 immediately started the second half dangerously. a good shot by Joël Piroe went just wide. In the 51st minute Catic set up a nice one-two with Zakaria Aboukhlal, but the latter lost his overview and shot at goal himself. That while he could have better put the ball back to the incoming fellow players. Not much later, PSV has a good switching moment from defense to attack. Piroe played the ball to Catic, who returned it perfectly to Piroe, who shot the ball under the goalkeeper to make it 0-1. In the ^62nd minute it is a long ball from the side, a central defender of the Alkmaar players plays back too softly to his goalkeeper. Catic takes advantage of this, but also in turn lays the ball too softly wide for the running Aboukhlal. A great opportunity to put the game away. After this, AZ O19 still had some faith in a good result, but it was mainly the idle moments that brought some danger in front of Mike van de Meulenhof's goal. A ball on the post and a ball off the line in the final minutes ensured that PSV crawled through the eye of the needle in Alkmaar.

PSV O19's next match is Wednesday, April 11, at 4 p.m.. This is against Feyenoord O18 for the semifinals of the cup.

Lineup PSV O19: Van de Meulenhof, Wallenburg, Daverveld, Soulas, Theunissen, Schoonbrood (83, Mendonca), Aboukhlal, Lonwijk, Piroe, Kun (72, Van de Berg ) and Catic.

Photo report

View the photo album of Paul Lenting's race here.