O15 eliminated in cup

For the quarterfinals, PSV O15 traveled to Amsterdam on Wednesday. There, Ajax awaited as opponent. A team that PSV deservedly won 4-1 in Eindhoven a few weeks ago. But Ajax was in good form, as they won 6-1 against Feyenoord last Saturday. But cup matches are matches in themselves. Would PSV be able to return to Brabant victorious, and qualify for the semifinals against another North Holland team (AZ)?

Under tough weather conditions, rain and wind, the match began with both teams looking to attack. The first opportunity was for PSV when, in the sixth minute, a free kick from Tim van den Heuvel fell just short of Jason van Duiven's head and Floris Bos also just missed the ball. Ajax did score the first chance when the striker tapped in a cross in the eighth minute. PSV did not let up and fought their way back into the match. And saw that rewarded in the fifteenth minute when Jason, after being brought down himself, kicked a free kick into the right corner from seventeen yards straight in front of goal: 1-1. After Jason almost benefited from fine preparatory work by Onesime Zimuangana moments later, it was Julian Kwaaitaal in the 36th minute that gave PSV a deserved lead. He anticipated the sharpest on a long ball from Joëll Gill'ard and squeezed between the last Ajax defender and Ajax goalkeeper before cleverly kicking the ball into the far corner via inside post: 1-2.

In the second half, the first chance was for PSV, but Elvic Jager saw his header go over. And the second chance was also for PSV after Tijn Vergeldt delivered the ball to Julian who saw his shot go just wide. After Ajax missed an opportunity, the Amsterdammers were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute. Goalkeeper Tijn Smolenaars was not able to prevent the 2-2. Two minutes later, PSV was momentarily off the mark and an Ajax player was able to twist between two Eindhoven players and score. Ajax had another lead to grab and PSV had to come out and give away spaces at the back. The home team took full advantage of that when a long ball from the goalkeeper got to the striker who rounded Tijn and put the final score of 4-2 on the board.

Unfortunately, in the second half PSV could not maintain the high level of the first half as a team, and thus saw the quarterfinals as the end of the cup competition. Next Saturday another important match is scheduled when AZ comes to Campus De Herdgang.

Setup:
Tijn Smolenaars; Reda El Meliani (74/ Enzo Geerts), Bram Rovers, Joëll Gill'ard, Floris Bos; Tijn Vergeldt (60/ Arthur Piedfort), Tim van den Heuvel, Jason van Duiven (c); Elvic Jager, Onesime Zimuangana (69/ Semi Bouhoudane), Julian Kwaaitaal.

Yellow cards: Bram Rovers, Onesime Zimuangana and Floris Bos.