In a blood-curdling match, PSV D1 drew the longest straw on Saturday and took a big step towards a possible championship. Against NAC Breda it eventually became 3-2, after first enjoying a comfortable lead of 3-0. In the end, things still got tight and the relief after the final whistle was clearly audible. Over the entire match, PSV was the rightful winner. The D1 had mostly ball possession and were largely to blame for things eventually becoming precarious. NAC deserves a big compliment for their fighting spirit and strong will to make it a real match from the start. Because a real match, it was!
The start is immediately fierce with two teams playing forward. There is also immediate danger from the Breda side from a corner. Fortunately without consequences. PSV has more ball possession, NAC defends sharply and confidently. Only after eight minutes PSV comes close to the Breda goal. The corner PSV gets, however, yields disappointingly little.
Then four minutes later. With a mighty action on the right, the Belgian right-winger cuts through the defense and finishes marvelously with outside foot: 1-0. The teams remain evenly matched. NAC gets a good header from a corner, PSV gets away well. From the 25th minute on, it is PSV that beats the clock. First it was Matthias Verreth who sprinted away after a good pass from Mink Peeters and hit the goalkeeper. Then Lennerd Daneels tries, again after a good pass from Mink, but he too bumps into the goalkeeper and Ties van den Eijnde also gets a huge chance just before time. His slightly too soft shot is unfortunately cleared off the line just in time. A very strong phase of PSV with three big chances, but it remains only 1-0.
PSV continues that strong end of the first half in the second. How hot! The whistle for kickoff is still echoing, or PSV is up 2-0. Matthias takes advantage of a bad back pass and the Belgian striker smoothly passes the goalkeeper. Ties breaks through the defense again immediately after that, but after a good solo he fails to cross the ball. PSV is much stronger than NAC in that phase. It combines better and hardly gives NAC any space. Mats Grotenbreg and Tom Scheepers cover many meters in the back and control the defense, Dante Rigo always shifts the game well forward. In midfield, Giovanni Nicolaas and Ertem Bölükbas are working extremely hard and wingers Zohair Labyad and Lennerd are constantly on point. It is therefore waiting for the 3-0. After a dangerous moment by NAC (free kick just over) the 3-0 comes. Mink sent Matthias away, Matthias was put down in the penalty area and Dante shot the ball with his shiny new shoes: 3-0. No problem, you would say. Claudio changes two players (Ymanuel Hurkmans and Joey Konings come in for Zohair and Mats) and they are not even on the pitch when a dead ball (again!) makes it 3-1. NAC started to believe in the game again and got stronger. A few free kicks, some pinpricks and then in the 20th minute the 3-2. PSV lost their balance for a moment, let NAC play too much without pushing themselves and even had a couple of hair-raising moments. However, Ieke Scheerhoorn is always in a good position and the rest of the team doesn't back down. The final phase is even for PSV with chances for Mink, Joey, Lennerd and Ymanuel. A big compliment for the efforts of both teams who made it a real cracker. PSV takes the three points and can go to Kerkrade next Friday with a great feeling.
(Report will be updated based on the video footage later!)