Strong performance ensures win

The weekday catch-up game last Tuesday saw Vitesse comfortably defeated (4-0), but the game was overshadowed by Isaac Babadi dropping out with a serious injury. Isaac has since undergone surgery and we wish him much strength and a speedy recovery.

Without Isaac, the O15 faced number two AZ on a cold Saturday morning. In the away game they drew 0-0, so today the home game with not much at stake for both teams. It will have to go very strange if both teams do not qualify for the champion's pool after the winter break.

The Eindhoveners' start was good. Twice a cross at the first post was defused by the AZ goalkeeper. And after a pass from Joëll Gill'ard, captain Jason van Duiven was able to shoot at goal. Unfortunately, he shot straight at the goalkeeper. After AZ first threatened in Eindhoven's goal area in the seventh minute, the guests made it 0-1 with a beautiful goal a minute later. The outside right came in with the ball at foot and shot the ball into the top corner with his left. A minute after that, PSV immediately had a great chance for the equalizer when Jason pounced on the Alkmaar goalkeeper's outstretched foot. PSV continued to hunt for the equalizer, but the home team was not lucky. Then the final pass was just not on target, or there was an Alkmaar limb in between or a shot was blocked. Both teams went to rest with a score of 0-1.

After halftime, PSV kept looking for the Alkmaar hole that would finally lead to the equalizer. But it seemed to be an afternoon in which everything seemed to be against them and the ball simply would not go in. Elvic Jager was just too late at the far post to work a cross in, Julian Kwaaiaal saw a volley hit the inside of the post and so it went on and on. AZ lurked on the counter in the meantime and was close to scoring the 0-2, but goalkeeper Bart Hamers was just able to turn the ball away with his foot. After Julian's shot was blocked, the next attack was again typical of the match up to that point: Enzo Geerts brought the ball into the sixteen with a header, after which Elvic hit the post with a half-volley. What bad luck! After an hour, AZ countered dangerously again and again Bart saved. And his saves were crucial, because in the 65th minute PSV finally came alongside. A cross from Renzo Tytens was headed away, but the offending ball was suddenly shot into the bottom corner by Enzo Geerts: 1-1. PSV felt that AZ was "in the ropes" and continued to create attack after attack. Jason saw a half-volley go over and Khaled Razak just missed a free kick by Enzo. Just before time, the home team took the lead. Where all game it seemed like everything was against them and the AZ goalkeeper was a real obstacle, PSV took the lead in a very fortunate way when the goalkeeper miscalculated a long cross from Elvic, which suddenly went over him and went in at the far post: 2-1. After an AZ player had to leave the field with two yellow cards, the home team decided the game deep in injury time. Elvic was once again "on the moped" and ran out half the AZ defense to lay the ball wide at the right moment to Khaled who shot well into the 3-1.

A spacious and deserved victory dedicated entirely to the recovering Isaac Babadi. Next Sunday, the O15 plays away at lowly-ranked Excelsior.

Setup:
Bart Hamers; Reda El Meliani (62/Khaled Razak), Bram Rovers, Joëll Gill'ard, Renzo Tytens; Tijn Vergeldt (40/Arthur Piedfort) , Tim van den Heuvel, Emir Bars (40/Enzo Geerts); Elvic Jager, Jason van Duiven (c), Julian Kwaaitaal (80/Reda El Meliani)