No competition for a week and yet another nice game for the boys: Utrecht came to play in Eindhoven. According to the preview on the site it would even be the D1 of Utrecht, but this time the well-informed site was wrong: it was just the D2 that everyone had been counting on all this time.
All week and even on Saturday morning fear and trembling, snow in the country. It didn't happen for a long time, but on our way to Eindhoven we drove into a heavy snow shower; it wouldn't be like that, would it? But no call from Eindhoven and the snow shower turned out to be only local and then the sun came out again and conditions seemed suitable for football. Fortunately, the boys were allowed to trot on the field in delightful conditions. A little sunshine and the field looked spick and span.
Half an hour later than planned to add to the excitement, the match could begin. Everyone full of expectations how PSV D2 was going to fare against Utrecht D2 who is in a nice fourth place in the second division west behind Ajax D2, Volendam D1 and Almere D1.
Two unlucky players today who had to follow the match from the sidelines. Lars' groin has been playing up for a week, and Armando somewhat ill and also a nasty experience behind the back with mother Barbara who saw her car engine catch fire on the freeway. The central duo was now replaced by Cody and Jordan who, after a somewhat uncomfortable start, filled these positions with great confidence.
The two teams were particularly keen. The energy is palpable and the pace is high. The D2 of Utrecht has a very nice team with a number of fast boys in front, a lot of movement and good combination football. The two teams were evenly matched, with Utrecht perhaps being the more dangerous. Especially the kicking striker of Utrecht was dangerous and could not even be contained by Cody and Jordan. But fortunately for us the striker could not exploit the 1 on 1 situations with Pepijn; also of course due to excellent goalkeeping by Pep who made it very difficult for the player twice.
The picture is that PSV goes forward in combination with a field superiority, and that Utrecht looks for the counter attack through lightning fast counter attacks. PSV manages to set Baggio free, but he cannot finish the ball decisively. Amar also appears in front of the goalkeeper but he too stands his ground. Then Hus was free to shoot at goal but his shot went over the bar.
About five minutes before half time the goal was finally scored. An attack over many sections and Cody, who was the last man standing, was able to take a shot just outside the penalty area and the Utrecht goalkeeper was too powerful. A 1-0 lead is a fact. Halftime. Everyone looks surprised on his clock, is it time already? The first half flew by. We are not reassured, the two teams are evenly matched and if Utrecht had been a bit more careful with their chances?
After half-time it is suddenly a completely different game. What was it? Was the 1-0 a sledgehammer blow that the Utrechters did not handle well? Was it a change in our boys' team, or Utrecht's? The fact is that the second half was entirely for our boys (which we didn't mind, by the way). Where in the first half the boys saw many attacks being interrupted, they were now frolicking through the Utrecht D2 defense. Beautiful attacks rippled across the field, and I was regularly behind in the notes by an attack or three, and neighbor Hanneke regularly had to update me on the latest developments.
Hus gets a chance first in the scramble but shoots against a leg. Robin then a nice shot opportunity but over. A free kick on the edge of 16, on the goalkeeper's hands. Utrecht's defensive structure is showing cracks and it is bound to happen. Cody finds Amar who after a dribble puts the ball to Robin, and Robin shoots the ball unreachable for the goalkeeper under the bar.
A single minute later. Justin finds Roland from midfield who continues his excellent play with a beautiful handball to James. James full of energy on the right to the goal and then in front is the recipe. But no, James concludes his energetic rush with a seething shot from a difficult angle. Unstoppable for the keeper, 3-0. James played an excellent second half anyway with this brilliant goal as the crowning touch.
Moments later another highlight. Corner of the penalty area and Amar found Roland who, with his back to the goal, volleyed the ball from the corner into the short corner. The Utrecht goalkeeper was bewildered or thought the ball would go wide, unfortunately for him the ball disappeared into the goal. 4-0.
The Utrecht heads started to droop and that is not surprising. After such an excellent first half, such a difference in the second half. Another compliment for the trainer of Utrecht D2 who corrected the referee at a throw-in for Utrecht which should have been for PSV and told him that the ball should have been for PSV. A nice token of sportsmanship, especially when your team is well behind!
Luc, who was allowed to rest for a while, was allowed to enter the field as 10. And Luc likes that. First ball contact for Luc when Hus cleverly sent him away the length of the field and Luc shot the ball impeccably low into the corner. From Hanneke next to me I get an enthusiastic poke in my ribs, that's my boy she shouts enthusiastically. Luc gets a special mention I call out to Hanneke, meanwhile massaging my aching ribs.
Towards the end Utrecht can recover a bit but again it is James who has not had enough and crowns a good rush across the field with a clever pass to Roland who scores his second and PSV's sixth.
So a game with two faces with a particularly good second half from PSV. For the fans, the analysis after the match.
As a report writer you have to develop yourself along with the boys. That is why I interviewed trainer Bastiaan after the game with the important question: how to explain the difference between the first and second half? Dear readers, I must admit with shame on my cheeks that I was unable to understand Bastiaan's argument. It revolved around a point forward (I always thought that was okay), which in the second half was backwards (apparently better anyway). Furthermore, it revolved around the position of the 6 and the 8 who could only be played to in a straight line in the first half and in the second half in a diamond with the 3 and the 5. The 10 (or was it now the 7) would then cover through which always left a man free. After asking three times if he could sprinkle less numbers around, I gave up. Steven after the match seemed to understand it all: Baggio (the 6?) slumped a bit and that allowed the 9 to get more space. Or something like that. Dear readers, you don't have to expect tactical reflections from me that I have learned from it.
On to the next game.
Hans Bosma