O15 takes full win in injury time

Since this season, the O15 has been playing in a different league format. Both before and after the winter break, the teams play a full competition in a pool of eight. In December, the numbers seven and eight relegate to a lower division while the numbers one and two move up from that division. At the end of the league, the same happens toward the new season. All with the goal of playing as many top games as possible. And that goal seems to be achieved, because if you look at the current standings, you see that five teams are so close to each other that it is constantly shifting places on the league table. Only leaders Vitesse and relegated Twente and Heerenveen have a gap to the other teams.

For PSV O15 the last away game was scheduled at AZ. A team that, like PSV, gained eighteen points so far. In Eindhoven earlier this calendar year, PSV won 1-0 through a goal by O14 player Isaac Babadi.

Because the bus encountered physical problems on the way to AZ, physio Ruud Huijbregts had to come into action early in the morning. A valve wouldn't stay closed anymore and was expertly taped so that the road could be continued.

The match started quietly. AZ had a few small opportunities in the early stages, but both goalkeepers had a quiet morning for a long time. In the 22nd minute, AZ seemed to take the lead. They became dangerous on the switch and the AZ attacker lobbed the ball over the outflowing Niek Schiks. But just before the goal line Livano Comenencia saved the ball, keeping it 0-0. PSV lurked in the spaces behind the back line, but Iggy Houben 's actions yielded no more than a few corners. Because a shot from Matteo Dams was easily taken by the AZ goalkeeper, and an AZ effort went wide, both teams went to the dressing rooms with no goal.

After halftime AZ immediately became dangerous, but Niek just managed to turn a shot into a corner with his fingertips. PSV played a little more football in that phase, but were very lucky when in the 48th minute a penalty opportunity for AZ was waved away. In the closing stages, both teams still had opportunities. Iggy almost set Jaivy Lourens free in front of the goalie, but his cross was just too hard. AZ headed a corner over and after Jaivy hit the side netting in the last minute, everyone thought the game would end 0-0. But PSV took the win in injury time. Shi-jon Martina picked up the ball about 25 meters from the goal. And passed about four defenders as if they were not there and kept his head very cool just in front of the goalkeeper and slid the 0-1 into the corner.

Thus PSV stole the three points a bit, but nobody minded that on the Eindhoven side. Next Tuesday the last league match. Leaders Vitesse then come to De Herdgang and must win for the title.

Setup:
Niek Schiks ; Livano Comenencia, Luc Netten (c), Yaël Gil y Muinos, Koen Jansen (56/Julian Kuijpers); Lars Putters, Matteo Dams, Ruben van Bommel; Iggy Houben, Jesper Uneken (53/Shi-jon Martina), Jaivy Lourens.

Yellow card: Jesper Uneken