Today Roda JC is the opponent for the 3rd time this league. In the previous games they lost 3-0 at home and won 2-0 away. The defeat dates back to the 1st series and after that it has only gone crescendo. Roda JC won 3-0 at Helmond Sport last week, while PSV lost in Aachen. It is therefore important to get the full points today to move up the table. Roda JC are likely to feel the same way, as PSV are put under pressure right from the kick-off and space is kept small. Most opponents try to take control of the game and exploit their physical advantage, but this costs a lot of energy and the question is how long they can keep it up. In the early stages there are many duels and it is difficult to find the free man. Yet the first opportunity is for PSV but Mo's pass to Greg is just too hard. Roda JC takes over and forces PSV back into their own half without really threatening. After ten minutes Roda JC gets a penalty after a Roda player is hooked in the penalty area. Kyan has shown himself to be a penalty killer several times in training, but now in the game face to face with the opponent is a different story. Not for Kyan, because he also stops this penalty and saves PSV from falling behind. PSV continues to defend attentively and can reach Greg via Joey. Greg is too quick for his opponent and gives PSV a 1-0 lead. In previous games, PSV takes the lead, but Roda does not leave it at that and looks for the equalizer. Kyan literally had to risk his head to prevent a Roda player from scoring with the help of Joey. Roda did not get any more chances in the first half and PSV went into the break with a lead despite Roda's superiority. The second half was similar in the beginning, but as the second half progresses, Roda's strength declines and PSV is able to get into the game without being the biggest threat. When, fifteen minutes into the second half, PSV took a 2-0 lead through a breakaway that Joop finished off beautifully, the game was over. Roda could no longer make a fist and when Davy intercepted the Roda build-up and shot in, it was even 3-0. A little later Tijn added some extra salt to the wounds by shooting a free kick from about 30 meters under the crossbar. This makes it 4-0, which looks like a simple victory, but it was not. But if you start winning lesser games then you can indeed start looking up. Just for statistics, the first 9 games 0 points. The next 8 games 20 points. Currently the 4th place in the league and who would have thought. Next week against VVV we will have to work harder to achieve a good result.

Report with thanks to Eric Zeegers