The Report
Two more finals to play. That was the credo for the away game against AZ for PSV's O15. The team still has three more losing points than Ajax. To still play the last match as a final, the team had to win today as well. Just like last Tuesday, the opponent was one that still had a bone to pick. Because PSV O15 lost two matches this season. Both in Eindhoven against Sparta and AZ. On Tuesday, the Eindhoven team won convincingly against Sparta with 0-7. What would it be today in North Holland?
The first half was flat, not much happened in front of either goal. If any team was close to a goal, it was PSV. After fifteen minutes of play, Jayden Braaf put colleague Jeremy Antonisse in front of the AZ goal. Unfortunately, Jeremy looked for the goal too high. In the final phase AZ pushed a bit and goalkeeper Robin Verhoeven had to intervene once with a cross. No goal was scored. Both teams went to the dressing rooms with the familiar glasses.
After the break, PSV quickly took the lead. Jeremy passed the ball deep, right between the last line and AZ goalie. Jason Pigmans was faster than his opponent and used his body well to shield the ball. He skilfully outplayed the incoming goalkeeper with a lob and the ball slowly rolled over the goal line: 0-1. Just after this opening goal AZ was dangerous, but the PSV defense stood firm. After hitting the side netting twice, the Eindhoven team made it 0-2 in the 65th minute. This time it was Nigel Lonwijk who put the ball away in the deep. The Alkmaar goalkeeper seemed to calmly control the ball outside the penalty box, but made a misstep after which the onrushing Jason could easily score. AZ scored the tying goal well into injury time, but luckily time was too short to be dangerous again.
Thus, PSV won this important match. A deserved victory over the entire match. Ajax also won its match (7-5 against Sparta), so the last match for PSV on Wednesday, May 24, is still about something. Ajax plays their catch-up game against ADO Den Haag next Wednesday and can then regain their three-point lead.
Setup: Robin Verhoeven; Thomas Cox (67' Alberto Puts), Nigel Lonwijk, Emmanuel Matuta, Heritier Deyonge; Joost de Schutter, Ian Maatsen (c), Kees van Lindert (69' Joep Kluskens); Jeremy Antonisse (46' Jur Clabbers), Jason Pigmans, Jayden Braaf.
Yellow card: Joost de Schutter.