After last week's loss against VVV/Helmond Sport D1 it was important for PSV D1 to get the best possible result against Top Oss on Saturday. Not only because PSV is obliged to do so (Top Oss is with one point from 13 matches the weakest brother in the group), but also to keep number two Den Bosch at bay. Whoever wants to become champion will have to win their games. It is as simple as that.
In Oss, without the sick Tom Scheepers and Koen Vos, PSV started with a three-man defense with which coach Claudio Braga immediately showed his offensive intentions. A good choice soon proved, because except for a ten-minute period just before halftime, Top Oss could not make a fist. The team lacks footballing qualities, but is also not really supported positively by an enthusiastic coaching staff. You never win games like that.
But enough about that, the course of the game. The start is messy and Top Oss actually digs into their own penalty area right from the start. PSV stands still a little too much and no real chances arise. Until the fifth minute, when it immediately hits the mark. A poor back-pass by a Top defender is intercepted by Matthias Verreth. He circles the goalkeeper and shoots neatly in: 0-1. Barely five minutes later, the goal is scored again. Defender Ymanuel Hurkmans puts Lennerd Daneels deep who delivers a fine cross to Matthias. Matthias heads into the hands of the goalkeeper who lets go. In the scrimmage Mink Peeters is attentive and puts the 0-2 in.
It then looks like PSV will easily steam through after a big win, but the Eindhoveners struggle to poke a hole in Top Oss' dense defense. Giovanni Nicolaas tries from distance with a nice shot immediately followed by a pleasant combination between Ties van den Eijnde and Mink. Mink's shot is blocked by the goalkeeper. In the 20th minute another attack on the right similar to the one from which Mink's goal resulted. Ymanuel plays Lennerd nicely deep, Lennerd slings the ball in front and Matthias puts in. This time no goal for the Belgian striker. Three minutes later, however, it's a goal for PSV. With a deep pass, Ties sends Joey away on the left. Joey eventually finds Matthias who rebounds with Gio. Gio finally shoots the ball high: 0-3.
Curiously, a strong period then follows for Top Oss in which the defense with Ymanuel, Roel van Linschoten and Jeroen Swinkels is put to the test. First goalkeeper Ieke Scheerhoorn parries a fine free kick, then he intervenes excellently on another breakout. But in the 29th minute Top Oss hit the target. From a corner (another dead ball moment!) an Osse player kicks the ball behind Ieke. PSV does not let Top Oss get any closer, however. Just before time, Mink and Ties set up a combination which ends up with Gio. Gio sent Lennerd deep who cleverly beat a defender and outsmarted the goalkeeper: 1-4.
After the break some changes were made. Zohair Labyad and Ertem Bölükbas replaced Joey Konings and Jeroen Swinkels, and later on Mats Grotenbreg and Twan Demin also came into the field for Mink and Matthias. It is soon touch-and-go again in the second half, although this goal has a penetrating hint of offside. In any case, the referee allows Lennerd to pass after a deep pass from Dante Rigo, finds Gio who slides in his second goal: 1-5. Immediately afterwards actually falls the 1-6 when Ymanuel finds Mink on the left and Mink coolly outsmarts the under goal keeper.
Substitutes Mats and Twan then get good chances and moments later Mats and Twan are again involved in a good attack which ends with Zohair who takes the volley in one go but shoots just wide. After a pass from Gio, Twan gets his goal after all, in the 24th minute he finishes a solo well after first hitting the post. The rebound means 1-7. Ties then gets another great chance after a nice action by Zohair but he plays the ball too far in front of him. Right after that it is Dante Rigo who almost outsmarts the goalkeeper with a lovely shot from distance. It is the last action of the match which is easily won. Because Den Bosch also wins, the Boschers stay in the wake of PSV. Den Bosch has played one less game and five more loss points. With a win in the catch-up match, Den Bosch can therefore reduce the difference to two points.