PSV has played AZ 37 times before in league matches at Philips Stadium. Of those 37 meetings, PSV won 28, the game ended undecided five times and the team from Alkmaar won four times. The last time AZ won was more than eight years ago. Back then it was 2-3 despite a fine start by PSV. Danny Koevermans was the match winner.
Koevermans nails PSV
On Feb. 3, 2007, PSV had an excellent start against AZ. From the first whistle, coach Ronald Koeman's team unleashed a storm towards the Alkmaar goal and saw themselves rewarded in the 20th minute. On a pass from Phillip Cocu, Jefferson Farfán shot the 1-0 from the edge of the penalty area. Shortly after halftime, AZ went 1-1 from nowhere through Moussa Dembele. After an hour of play, AZ even takes the lead when a corner kick by Julian Jenner disappears directly behind Gomes. Cocu soon put PSV back on level terms, but in the end PSV still lost. In the absolute closing stages, Danny Koevermans volleyed in the 2-3 from a corner kick. It would not be the striker's last goal at Philips Stadium.
Double Bruggink
In previous years, AZ was more often close to a win at the Philips Stadium. In 2003, for example, the visitors seemed to be heading for a victory for a long time. Through goals by Tim de Cler and Ali Elkhattabi, AZ led 2-0 at halftime. More than twenty before the end of the match, the Alkmaarers still do. Arnold Bruggink changes that with a free kick. Just twenty seconds after he stepped in for Dennis Rommedahl, Bruggink curls the 1-2 in beautiful fashion. Ten minutes later the substitute had another free kick and again the ball disappeared behind goalkeeper Theo Zwarthoed. Unfortunately for Bruggink and PSV it stayed 2-2.
Maher takes PSV in tow
Last year, PSV won 3-0 over AZ. Cocu's team scored all three goals before halftime. The 1-0 came from Luciano Narsingh, who appreciated a beautiful cross from Jetro Willems and promoted the pass to a goal. Then it became Adam Maher's night. First the midfielder thoughtfully tapped in a poorly handled cross from Willems, then Maher struck again shortly before halftime. The midfielder slalomed past several former teammates and shot the third and final goal diagonally.