Report The Graafschap
De Graafschap A1 has lost the mutual confrontation with PSV. The teams had equal points prior to the game, making the match very important. PSV showed themselves more effective in front of goal: 0-3.

Because the home team started the game not quite sharp, they had to put things right within fifteen minutes. PSV had a slight advantage and was less sloppy than De Graafschap. After about twenty minutes the home club had to take action against the guests' quick right-winger. The flank player was not given any trouble on his way to the goal, after which he could pick out a fellow player to tap in the 0-1. It was the guests' central midfielder who eventually gave PSV the lead.

Feint from De Graafschap could not harm PSV in the next fifteen minutes and PSV became very dangerous again after 32 minutes. The hosts' offside trap did not close properly and suddenly the guests' captain appeared free in front of goalkeeper Erik Evers. The coach's extension decided to try his luck with a wobble, but the ball passed the wrong side of the post.

PSV also had the better chances in the second half, almost forcing De Graafschap to bow out for a second time. Twice a header went just wide and the third chance in a row was curled past the post by the Eindhoven striker. Not much later, De Graafschap finally showed something of themselves. Sven Spekking steamed up the right side of the pitch, delivered a perfect cross, but Carlos dos Santos went under the ball.

In the 57th minute of the match, the home team should have been awarded a penalty kick. Niek Sebens was torpedoed by PSV's goalkeeper. The referee had observed the incident but admirably decided not to award a penalty kick to De Graafschap. Frustrations ran a little high and seven minutes later PSV doubled the score. It was a dubious goal, as there was first no whistle for dangerous play by the Eindhoveners and then no whistle for the hands ball of the right-winger, who easily outplayed goalkeeper Erik Evers and scored the 0-2.

De Graafschap came up short to produce the tying goal. Tim Keurntjes had the 1-2 on his foot, but his free kick from the right side of the pitch splattered on the crossbar. After all, PSV still made it 0-3, after a deep ball fell to the feet of the left winger, who scored beautifully.