PSV O13 through to cup semifinals

In a difficult match, PSV O13 reached the semifinals of the cup. After a 2-2 final score, opponent Ajax O13-2 was defeated after penalty kicks.

PSV opened furiously and had a great chance after only half a minute. A sharp cross from Gino Verhulst was headed towards goal by Sami Bouhoudane, but with a strong reflex the Ajax goalkeeper managed to turn his attempt away. Not much later, PSV had another chance, and this time the goal did come. A corner kick from Isaï Middag landed on the head of Sami Bouhoudane, who left the goalkeeper defenseless. Yet the Eindhoven players could not enjoy this lead for long, because less than two minutes after the opening goal, the Ajax striker was free to head for the PSV goal. His lob over goalkeeper Stijn Kuijsten was just hard enough, bringing the signs back into balance after ten minutes. PSV struggled to maintain the lead and, partly due to the low tempo, failed to create any more chances. Because Ajax did not do so either, both teams went to rest with a 1-1 score.

Not much changed in the second half. PSV did not play sharp enough to put Ajax under pressure and struggled to create chances. Still, the Eindhoveners took the lead again fifteen minutes before time, when a smooth combination between Isaï Middag and Sami Bouhoudane ended up with Dichano Bulo. The right-winger did not hesitate and shot his team hard for a 2-1 lead. Just as with the opening goal, Ajax quickly equalized again through a penalty kick. In the final minutes, both teams had a number of big chances, but no more were scored.

In the penalty shoot-out both teams were also very close. From the first four attempts, both PSV and Ajax managed to score three goals. After Dichano Bulo scored PSV's fifth penalty, goalkeeper Stijn Kuijsten took the last Amsterdam penalty.

In the semifinals of the cup, the team may go to the Hofstad, where ADO Den Haag will be the opponent. Next Saturday, PSV O13 plays an away game, when it visits AZ. The match in Wijdewormer starts at 10:30 am.

Line-up: Stijn Kuijsten; Yalen Meulendijks (52/Imran Yachou), Michael Bresser, Steyn Mussche, Rens Boon (47/Abdullah Hekmat); Jari Horsten (35/Boet Mulders), Benjamin Khaderi, Isaï Middag (57/Pieter van der Beek); Joep Willems (35/Dichano Bulo), Sami Bouhoudane, Gino Verhulst