For the players of PSV O12 today a match against Brabant United, a combination of the youth academies of RKC and Fc den Bosch. The players of PSV consider this match as one in a series of 10 matches, the players of Brabant United consider this match as the match against the "big" PSV. This difference in approach was clearly visible in the first half of the match, the players of PSV go into the match uninhibited to play nice football, the players of Brabant United go into the match with more than 100% motivation to win this match. This is an opportunity for the Brabant United players to put themselves in the spotlight, or to show that some of them may have been unjustly dropped from PSV's youth plan. Either way, a big difference in approach to a match. When PSV's players walk to the training pitch during the week they pass the text "Hard work beats talent, if talent doesn't work hard:" After today, I wonder if they ever thought about what this text actually means. So the 1st half played mainly on PSV's half, simply because PSV did not get the space to play football, Brabant United's players were physically stronger, wanted the ball necessarily, and plenty of pressure on the ball. If that is the case the players will also have to go along with the more physical game, or do what they are good at and that is simply passing the ball from foot to foot at a higher pace. But they didn't do that for the first 20 minutes and it was waiting for a goal from Brabant United. In the 14th minute Brabant United got the well deserved goal, the striker of Brabant United neatly shot the ball in after a good dribble 1-0. After 20 minutes PSV got into the game a bit better which led to 2 small chances, but Kevin also had to save several times on good chances from Brabant United. With the 1-0 deficit the boys could go to rest and hear what was not right.
Coach Kevin was very clear in his explanation, who are we and what do we want? The players indicated that they really are PSV and would show in the 2nd half why they play for PSV and not their opponents.
In the 2nd half everything was different, PSV fighting, wanting to go for the ball, going into the duel and also wanting to win that duel. Not always with eye-catching football, they had no chance for that, but with plenty of fight. In the 35 minute a header by Dylan from a corner, everyone looked at the referee, had the ball completely crossed the line? And yes he pointed to the center spot, so the 1-1 on the scoreboard. In the 44 minute Lander resumed the game with a quick kick out, this ball went over everyone, Joep reacted well and quickly and neatly poked the ball over the goalkeeper of Brabant United 1-2. 3 Minutes later it was Jesse who gave a deep pass to Joep, who managed to get the ball well in front of the goal, where the well runner Martijn had no trouble tapping the ball in 1-3. The players of Brabant United tried to score the tying goal, but the PSV players did not give anything away now, simply because they wanted the ball. In the 58 minute it was Joep who rewarded a nice solo with a goal, 1-4. Of course the players have to get better, but if the opponent doesn't give you room to play good football, there will also have to be fight and passion, well the PSV players showed that they know how to deal with that. If they go into every week with this attitude, few will be able to beat PSV O12.
All in all a game with two faces, but a lot of learning moments for the boys. Think the coach will let them read the text on the wall of the Herdgang this week. A nice Saturday morning in the beautiful basket maker stadium of RKC. No league game next week, but a friendly against De Graafschap.