Smolenaars excels at draw

PSV O15 lost the last two games 3-1. But one 3-1 is not automatically the same as another 3-1. Where PSV failed to play its own game in the game against Feyenoord and got knocked around, it had more guts and nerve last week against Ajax. It also got beaten by the same numbers, but everyone went home with a totally different feeling. Today there was another tough game on the paper. Out to AZ. In August both teams also met in a friendly. PSV won then relatively easily with 4-1. A win would be very welcome for the Eindhoven players.

The opening phase was for the home team who then also had a few opportunities. But every time goalkeeper Tijn Smolenaars was ready with a good save. PSV on the other hand was sloppy in the final stages, often losing the ball before it could become a threat. In the final phase of the first half, PSV got better and created chances. For example, Elvic Jager came close to scoring 0-1 in the 26th minute. And Onesime Zimuangana almost benefited from a slip by the AZ goalie. Because also captain Jason van Duiven was well defended just before halftime before he wanted to shoot, both teams went to rest at 0-0.

After halftime, PSV took the initiative and Jason was immediately dangerous. His shot into the short corner was just turned into a corner by the goalkeeper. With half an hour to go, PSV was unlucky that twice Elvic's cross did not reach a player. In the last quarter of the game an open game unfolded in which both teams were chasing the opening goal. AZ hit the post once, and Isaac Babadi almost surprised the goalkeeper with a distance shot. No goals were scored this afternoon, so after 80 minutes of football the referee closed with the same score as he had started with.

Thus, this was the first game of the league in which the team was able to keep the zero. Defensively, of course, fine. But because it was also the first time PSV failed to find the net, the team got back on the bus with only one point. Next week the team will leave for Georgia for a week to participate in the Adjara tournament.

Setup:
Tijn Smolenaars ; Reza El Meliani (40/Joëll Gill'ard), Bram Rovers, Brian van den Boogaard, Renzo Tytens; Emir Bars, Tim van den Heuvel, Isaac Babadi (40/Tijn Vergeldt; 64/Isaac Babadi); Elvic Jager, Jason van Duiven (c) (48/Julian Kwaaitaal), Julian Kwaaitaal (24/Onesime Zimuangana).

Yellow card: Renzo Tytens