Without trainer Kristof, who was missing this week due to the sad death of his mother and for whom coaching was observed trainers Kevin and Edwin, the O16 played the home match against AZ on Saturday. PSV pulled off an exhilarating game in which they pulled off an artful victory and still have a shot at the title in the Champions League.
After observing a minute's silence in memory of the coach's mother, PSV played a good 1st half in which the team had the better of the game but failed to express that in the score. Although AZ also had a few chances in the 1st game, PSV could and should have scored at least 3 goals. In the 9th minute, after a good combination with Bobby on the left side, Justin put the ball on the forehead of striker Joel, who headed in hard but saw the ball go just over the goal. Bobby had the opening goal on his foot a few minutes later when he appeared only in front of the goalie and had the corner to choose from but saw his effort stopped in the short corner. In the 25th minute, the left striker again got free passage to the Alkmaar goalkeeper but was flagrantly kicked from behind by the truculent right back, who already had a yellow card in his pocket. The referee was the only one who saw nothing unregulated in the defender's tackle and resolutely waved away the PSV players' understandable call for a penalty, meanwhile giving a yellow card to Justin for protesting where a red card for the back was the only appropriate thing to do. The upside-down world, in the opinion of the AZ coach, who substituted the player immediately afterwards.
Although not from the penalty that should have been awarded, PSV made the deserved 1-0 more than 5 minutes before halftime. Baggio, who played a perfect cross from the right, placed the ball at the first post on the head of Joel, who headed in with a fine header. With a nice collective gesture to the stands, where the coach was following the game, the whole team dedicated the goal to him.
In the second half, PSV had to pull out all the stops against an unleashed AZ, who had traded the long ball for good positional play and with good combinations were able to get in front of Youri's goal dangerously several times. PSV on the other hand could hardly be dangerous anymore, did not get into their own game and literally reached the final signal with cramp symptoms. In the 8th (!) minute of the referee's generous extra time, PSV escaped the equalizer when an AZ header hit the post. Although AZ deserved more based on the 2nd half, PSV eventually managed to take the full 3 points.
PSV plays the away match against FC Utrecht on Tuesday at 13:00. In theory, the championship can still be decided in the final round. Leader Feyenoord then plays (on Friday) against number-last FC Twente, PSV a day later against Sparta.
Team and staff of PSV O16 wish coach Kristof and his family a lot of strength and hope to bring him the championship next week.
Youri Roulaux; Baggio Wallenburg - Jordan Teze ('73 Tijn Daverveld) - Steven Theunissen - Roel van Linschoten; Justin Lonwijk ('49 Sekouh Sidibe) - Robin Schoonbrood ('79 Davy van den Berg) - Leandro Fernandes (c); Cody Gakpo - Joël Piroe - Bobby Adekanye.
On the bench not substituted: Arne Lekens.
Yellow card: Baggio Wallenburg; Justin Lonwijk.