Grounds Ons Vios, Tatraweg 11, Tilburg
The last match against Utrecht has been a while ago. King Winter made the fields unplayable. Even clubs with beautiful artificial turf had their backs against the wall and had to admit that football could not be played on "ice".
So, with a free week-end behind them, the batteries were fully charged and the next game would be shot with focus.
Coach Bastiaan could not count on Lars Dickens who was still too much troubled by a groin injury. For the rest, the core was complete.
Willem II's own field did not (yet) allow for football, so the team travelled to the Ons Vios sports complex in Tilburg, where a beautiful coastal turf field was to be the battleground for the return game in the league. The first match was won by PSV with 4-1.
After the referee's start signal, the ball possession was predominantly for PSV and the first chance was also for the Eindhoven players. With an Eindhoven player in the lead, Ruud Van Bremen, he ran his man out but the good cross was not followed by anyone.
After five minutes of probing, Jordan Cody served, his shot deflected off a defender and landed over the goalkeeper in goal. 0-1. PSV on fire.
The active Ruud also got involved in the next dangerous phase, but this time he slammed the ball in front of the goal.
After 15 minutes, the home team came close to Pepijn for the first time, but the lob went a meter over. Moments later another lob but now the ball goes wide. PSV has to watch out.
Robin who is behind the cannon twice misses the right direction as many times, I think, give him one more chance and it is prize. But Robin does not go for the goal , but for the assist, and he gives "home player" Justin the gift on a shot. And Justinho takes it in thanks. 0-2.
This is also the score at halftime.

After a good cup of coffee, the actors enter the field and it is again PSV who dictates the law.
Because after 3 minutes, the other "home player" Amar goes on a walk through the middle and on to the front line and pops the 0-3 across the corner. Whether it was quick? Mmm... yes. And the defenders weren't exactly snails today, either.
But Willem II did not leave it at that and tried to get another goal. The attack is the best option. But at the back PSV have been doing well lately, Armando, Steven and Lucje keep it closed at the back, with a Pepijn or an Arne behind them.
A free kick by Armando went wide and a good shot by Baggio was blocked.
Arne was targeted from close range but held on tight. A quick counter attack ended up in a corner kick, which Justin again headed in. 0-4.
And yet there is a lot of sloppiness in the PSV game. It is not a game that warms you up and makes you forget the cold temperatures.
When the perfect referee puts the ball on the penalty spot after a clear foul in the penalty area, Arne has to work hard again. He stops the penalty, but a well-conducted home player is able to head in from close range.
Armando intervenes well again at the back and in the closing stages Willem II gets a chance to make it 2-4, but the free kick goes over via the crossbar and just like in the outward game it remains 1 to 4 for PSV.
As I wrote earlier, not the best game of the D2 this season. But hey, the boys were able to play football again, so their faces were beaming afterwards, and that's what you do it for...

Goals: 2x Justin, 1x Cody and 1x Amar.