The report

To make up for the backlog in the number of games played, PSV's O15 team faced N.E.C. in Nijmegen in midweek. Where some teams are already 17 out of 26 games, the Eindhoven team is just halfway. So the fourteenth match between numbers 6 (PSV) and 9 (N.E.C.).

From the first whistle, PSV was the most dominant team. It had by far the most ball possession, but played just a tempo too slow to unravel the closed N.E.C. defense. In addition, the game in the final stages was too sloppy or made the wrong choices to create real chances. N.E.C. gambled on the counter and was closest to scoring the opening goal in the ^12th minute when the striker found himself alone in front of goalkeeper Aron van Lare after a long ball from behind. He tried to outsmart Aron with a lob, but the PSV goalkeeper reacted adequately. PSV countered with several shots, but Dylan Hopman, Jasper Huijzer, Jesse Giebels, Mylian Jimenez and Milan van de Riet did not see their efforts hit the target. The halftime score was therefore 0-0.

The second half was virtually a copy of the first. PSV dominated, the game played mainly on the Nijmegen half and N.E.C. lurked for space behind the PSV defense. The difference, however, was that this time goals were struck. First literally when Mohamed Nassoh shot the ball from about 20 meters into the crossbar. And later figuratively when the home team went ahead 1-0 in the 62nd minute. Stupid ball loss deep in the N.E.C. half by a PSV player ensured that one long ball to the striker was enough to score the opening goal. PSV could and should have taken the lead at that stage, but failed to do so. Dylan went close twice and Jenson Seelt saw a good shot caught by the goalkeeper.

In the final phase of the match, PSV pushed once more. But miraculously the ball did not go in. Sometimes you have those matches.....Then the Eindhoven team managed to take a well-deserved point back to the bus. At the break of dawn, Martijn Zuijderwijk was sent away by Dylan on the right. His shot hit the far post, and the ball ended up at the feet of Milan van de Riet, who found a gap just before time and scored the 1-1 goal.

A result that was also on the scoreboard after the match at De Herdgang. Soccer-wise, however, the difference today was much greater than then. The fact remains that both teams were able to add one point to their total today. PSV moved up one place to position five and N.E.C. remained ninth.

Setup: Aron van Lare (c); D'Leanu Arts, Jenson Seelt, Jesse Giebels, Nawaaz Landfeld; Mylian Jiminez, Dylan Hopman, Mohamed Nassoh; Jasper Huijzer (50' Martijn Zuijderwijk), Milan van de Riet, Dyon Dorenbosch.