Equal up

We write September 12, 2009. PSV D3 enters the second match of the D-League ZO-Netherlands against MVV D2 from Maastricht. The boys are already well into the rhythm, but for me today is my debut as D3 reporter.

In addition to a professional photographer, the D3 now has three (3!) full time journalists who will follow the boys this year. There is already talk of creating a PSV D3 editorial team! So you see that the merging of the 2 E teams, also leads to all kinds of new and exciting developments in the coaching staff. Upon my arrival at the complex, Mr. Lekens immediately addressed me with: "It really is your turn now. Fellow journalist Ms. Ank Gakpo van Bommel arrived later because, she told me, it had been decided in the meeting that today was 'my turn'. When I asked which meeting that was, she remained anxiously silent ... However, readers rest assured ... The new editorial team will surely become a close-knit team during the course of the season, and contribute at a high level.

Still, I would like to take the opportunity to correct fellow reporter Lekens (you will notice that things are getting rough), who in a previous report spoke of 'a series of practice matches', while we are talking about the D2-League ZO-Netherlands. This league is indeed from 'outside the KNVB' but it is a league with professional teams competing for wins in a league, with a real cup for the first prize.

The only drawback is that the results and standings are not simply available on the KNVB site, so we do not know how things are going in the D2-League. In addition, our D3 committee 'Standen en Uitslagen' unfortunately has no members. Last year Henri Vonk was our man here, but he stayed in the E together with Pepijn. New members are still being sought ... but nobody seems to dare to follow in Henri's footsteps. Still, we searched outside the club to see if we can fill this position; the site of our opponents today is promising: MVV D2 with an (I hope) updated score! It was nice that the Vonk family came to visit the old club!

Now on to the match! Rested after a long writing summer break and with a new fresh writing book in my inside pocket, I am on edge on the center line so as not to miss a moment. MVV and PSV are ready for the match. Us MVV'ke in nice red and white shirts, and PSV in the brand new, fancy black with red and white checkered stripes. But I have to say, the first half I can't note much in my red and black book. The game is messy with MVV D2 the dominant party. This also leads to the 1-0 when Stan is able to parry a hard shot, but an attentive MVV player is able to slide the ball into the goal in the second instance. Fortunately Stan is otherwise lord and master in his goal, and it stays at a modest 1-0.

Halftime. Hopefully the second half will bring more, otherwise the most important football part of the report will be very short. Fortunately, in the second half a particularly fun duel unfolds that the crowd enjoys to the fullest. The PSV and MVV supporters encourage the boys enthusiastically, because it can go either way.

While MVV is the better team in the first half, PSV is more on MVV's side in the second half. The duels are won in midfield and regularly the attackers are launched. It is Ruud who is found, and manages to pass the goalkeeper but there is an attentive defender who can turn the ball around. Cody regularly shoots at the goal and the balls go high-high, but drop just too late or just too high; without result. Robin also made his presence felt and managed to get round the goalkeeper in a nice move, but twice he just lacked power.

It is soon 1-1 thanks to Ruud who cleverly passes the goalkeeper from a quickly taken free kick. MVV has to go back more but remains terribly dangerous. Arne and his defenders regularly had to pull out all the stops to prevent a second goal. In the break, Colin put the team more forward, which indeed resulted in ball possession and chances, but at the back the team played one on one, and no mistakes were allowed to be made. Fortunately the boys were attentive; Jordan and Steven were able to disrupt breakaways on the flanks with their speed, and in the center Armando was in the right place all the time.

Where MVV could have won the game in the first half, in the second half PSV D3 gets all the chances to win the game after all. And then things don't go well when an, according to the PSV-people at least, flawless penalty kick (an MVV player acting as goalkeeper) is denied. Cody is also unlucky once again when he wants to end a beautiful rush with a seething shot, but a mole has been working on that very spot...

So it remains 1-1, a fair result in a game with two faces against a very sporting opponent.

Report with thanks to Hans Bosma