Drizzling weather on the way to Sittard, but once we arrived at the sports center, the rain would give way to ideal football weather. Anyone who loves football knows that these are the perfect conditions to play a game. The field nice and wet, lots of oxygen in the air and an atmosphere to really go for it.
Both PSV and Fortuna had gotten the message, it was going to be a fun game....
There was no scanning, just bang on. The first chance was for the home team.
The fast striker of Fortuna slipped through the PSV defense and Stan had to intervene immediately. He did so successfully.
After 7 minutes PSV lost the ball, the Fortuna flank attacker kept a good overview and played the ball back to the well tracked striker, who hit the ball into the net. 1-0.
We then get, as the game starts to get going, a course in throwing in by the referee. He does this with the best of intentions, everyone knows that, but no one was really waiting for this, because these moments obviously take the pace out of the game.
Where in past games the defense was sometimes caught cold by a distant pass from the opponent, now some experience appeared to surface. The boys did not let themselves be caught so easily anymore and where it did happen there was always someone who came to the rescue. Thus Luc was much needed to prevent the 2-0.
Fortuna was more eager and Luc and Baggio were needed again on a counter from the home team.
How long could PSV keep this up. Long, as it turned out because at the back the puzzle started to fall together nicely, Armando who also intervened well a few times played with a lot of maturity and again proved to be no fun to play against, rock-hard but sporting he managed to find a good solution every time. And regularly he found it with Bjorn. He offered himself well to Armando and that combination (Bjorn-Armando) worked like a charm. Bjorn's passes were splitting in the direction of Ruud, and when Ruud was launched it was always shaking for the opponent.
At the other end, the Jordan-Steven combination was also successful, and what everyone saw today arrived in stocking feet. "The perception. It was there again. Huseyin and Robin also found each other well today and that too resulted in beautiful, technically high quality football.
Fortuna could not be out of sight for a second until then, as they kept the field very large with long perfect passes, but when everything is well put together at the back no holes are found to slip through. If this is then seen by midfield and attack it is also fun football for these guys.
And after 25 minutes it was there, corner kick Ruud, to Armando, rebound to Robin and he popped in under the goalkeeper. 1-1. And then we knew, we could win.
The game was running as usual. Ruud was launched again (by Bjorn) and then the 1-2 was on its way, but the referee didn't allow Ruud to score and whistled half time just as he was about to touch down.
This was unfortunate, but the boys didn't let it get to them, went to rest and get ready for the second period.
Halftime score 1-1. justified at halftime.
The second period begins as the first had ended, with an attack by PSV. Pass from Huseyin to James, passing him and popping, but just wide.
Nice interplay James, Jordan Robin, great cross from Jordan but Robin nips just over.
Arne, who remained unemployed until the 16th minute in the second period, had to be alert to a counterattack by Fortuna, but he was well awake and parried well.
Another nice moment for the PSV supporters, the reappearance of Lars Dickens who had to watch from the sidelines for several weeks after a nasty injury. Hopefully that injury period is over for good. Welcome back buddy.
Cody, who was allowed in 10 minutes before the end, immediately started a successful rush through the middle, laid off nicely to James and he took the gift with thanks and popped in nicely. 1-2. The redemption.
From then on Fortuna collapsed. Luc, who played a great game (as did the whole team today) with a good cross to Rafael, who saw how "Rafke" made the most beautiful goal ever. Checking Luc's pass, the ball went up in the air, he threw his legs up and with a scissors movement in the air he made a wonderful turn and shot the ball over the goalkeeper (who was nailed to the ground). 1-3 immediately also the final score.
"Rafke" is buried under a lot of PSV-ers and once he is out of there you can see him feasting, of his own, delicious goal.
Final score 1-3
Deserved victory that players, coach and supporters thoroughly enjoyed.
But also a creditable game from the home team who brought beautiful football with sometimes clever combinations. Unfortunately for them there was no points win in it today.
Report with thanks to Joël Lekens