The report
It giet oan! This is how I started my match report of the 1st league match of the season against Feyenoord. And now I can reuse this opening sentence. Because this Saturday the league resumed after the winter break. And just like at the beginning of September, Feyenoord was the opponent in this first match. Then the particularly lively and exciting match ended in a heartwarming 4-4.
What stood out in the home game in September was that Feyenoord took the lead within 22 seconds and both teams created many chances in a completely open match. In it, PSV managed to come back from a deficit 3 times. Would PSV manage to drive back to Eindhoven with the three points? To keep up with leader Ajax, both teams could not afford to lose a point. Ajax is in first place with 33 out of 13, followed by PSV with 27 out of 13. AZ and Feyenoord share third place with 26 out of 12. And finally Vitesse and Sparta are still in the lead with 25 out of 13 and 22 out of 12 respectively.
The opening phase was promising. Both teams popped up in front of the enemy goal in the very first minute. Both times, however, the attacker was whistled back for offside. The beginning was promising, but then it took a long time. Only after fifteen minutes was there another chance. A corner by Amin Doudah hit the arm of a Feyenoord player at the far post, but it eluded the referee. So no penalty for PSV and a great opportunity to open the scoring. Two minutes later the home side did. After a corner, goalkeeper Peter Strijbosch was forced to let go and Feyenoord opened the scoring: 1-0. Just before half time PSV came alongside. Captain Ian Maatsen went forward well on the left and passed the ball hard to Jason Pigmans at the far post: 1-1.
In the second half, PSV was the team that determined the game, but a deserved lead remained out at first. But it did come. After a great 'Zidane-like' action, Amin reached the back line and crossed the ball. In a mishmash of players, Fodé scored, tucking the ball behind his stanchion and into the goal. The lead gave PSV a good feeling, but Jason and Jayden found the goalkeeper in their way. After the home team threatened for the first time after halftime in the 52nd minute, the equalizer came a little later. A high and deep ball was misjudged, giving the Feyenoord striker a free pass towards Peter. The striker made no mistake and left our goalie defenseless: 2-2. In the 67th minute PSV took the lead again. A good deep ball from Ian to Jason was well taken, he turned well away from his opponent and physically trumped him before scoring the 2-3 with a hard, dry shot. What a beautiful goal and at the right time. A reward for hard work and belief to take the full booty on the bus.
Feyenoord still had a few minutes to force something, but the home side did not get beyond a shot. Indeed, a minute before the end PSV decided the game. Jason was sent into the deep, but was brought down around the halfway line. He got up quickly, the referee gave fine advantage, allowing Jason to head alone towards the Feyenoord goal. At first the goalkeeper saved the ball, but the rebound was easy for Jayden: 2-4. PSV won the top game at Feyenoord. All in all it was a deserved victory that keeps PSV in contention for the championship.
Setup: Peter Strijbosch; Alberto Puts (60' Thomas Cox), Emmanuel Matuta, Joost de Schutter, Ian Maatsen (c); Mathijs Tielemans, Amin Doudah, Kees van Lindert; Fodé Fofana (50' Jur Clabbers), Jason Pigmans (69' Heritier Deyonge) and Jayden Braaf.