This weekend the O15 of PSV got to hit the real grass again. Last week the team of head coach Edwin de Wijs participated in an indoor tournament in Germany. Although, the real grass..... At home at De Herdgang, the artificial turf of the main pitch was today's working area.

Opponent: NEC. A team with which PSV still had a score to settle. Because in the third game of this season, they suffered their first defeat in Nijmegen. With a 2-1 defeat the team had to board the bus for the trip back to Brabant.

NEC is a solid mid-table team this season. What is striking is that it has conceded very few goals. In 14 games the NEC goalkeeper had to fish only 10 times. In the game in Nijmegen it was already clear that PSV had a lot of trouble creating chances against the compact Gelderlanders. Apart from few goals, the guests did not score many themselves. In 14 matches the Nijmegen players managed to find the net only 13 times. Curious to see how the home team took up the challenge to crack the Nijmegen nut this weekend.

In the pouring rain, the first minutes were for NEC. It had more ball possession without being threatening for a moment. The first danger was from the PSV side when Jayden Braaf saw his cross end up on top of the crossbar in the 5th minute. After Mohamed Ihattaren saw his shot end up in the hands of the NEC goalie three minutes in, it took a while before another feat could be noted.

It was already the 15th minute when the home team finally produced a fluent attack. The clever attack over several drives ended with captain Damian Timan who saw his shot with the left beautifully parried by the goalkeeper.

There was nothing more to enjoy in the first half. A half in which PSV had the slight advantage and in which both teams created few or no chances.

Also in the second half, the level of play was not so bad. PSV tried, but it just wasn't happening today. NEC played compact, gave nothing away and looked where it could play.

After Fodé Fofana almost managed to finish in the 42nd minute, a minute later the ball was scored at the other end. The NEC left-winger was sent away in the deep and his cross was tapped in from close range: 0-1.

After this opening goal, PSV's level of play deteriorated further. There was little consultation and line in the game to make it difficult for NEC. It was even thanks to goalkeeper Jurre Schaafsma that they were still in the game. In the 55th minute Jurre had a great reflex when he tapped a shot out of the goal.

However, it turned out to be a stay of execution. In the 62nd minute NEC made it 0-2 when a midfielder from outside the 16 meters shot the ball into the top corner.

PSV could hardly do anything in return. Only a header by Elgero King from a corner that was cleared off the line was worth noting.

Thus NEC nipped PSV in the bud for the 2nd time this season. Both teams are still in the cup quarterfinals. Hopefully PSV will get another chance for revenge this season. That would at least mean that both teams would survive the quarterfinals. PSV meets Twente while NEC has to deal with ADO Den Haag.

Jurre Schaafsma; Thomas Cox (60' Heritier Bora Deyonge), Mees Kreekels, Elgero King, Jochem van Dijk (36' Stijn van der Put); Mathijs Bel, Dennis Vos, Damian Timan (c); Mo Ihattaren, Jayden Braaf, Fodé Fofana.