PSV was heading for a point loss for a long time Sunday night, until Ricardo Pepi crowned itself the matchwinner once again in the very last minute. It is the seventeenth goal by a substitute in the league, the highest number of any team in this Eredivisie season.
Hits from substitutes
The duel between PSV and FC Twente seemed destined for the scenario that unfolded. With fourteen goals from substitutes, FC Twente is second behind PSV. Just before time, the Twente players seemed to be able to add one more, when substitute Mitchell van Bergen went one-on-one with Walter Benítez. The Argentine in top form saved points for PSV again. The Philips Stadium exploded in the final minute when Ricardo Pepi netted his seventh league goal as a substitute. It was his first PSV goal with his left foot.
The goal by 'El Tren' was the seventeenth goal by a substitute in the Dutch league. With that, PSV needs two more to equal the Eredvisie record. With nineteen goals by substitutes in the 2020-2021 season, PSV is already the record holder. Ricardo Pepi is also working on a record attempt. The American is tied with Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Both strikers are close to the record (8) with seven goals as substitutes.
A total of six players from the A squad were hit as substitutes: Yorbe Vertessen, Ismael Saibari, Malik Tillman, Guus Til, Isaac Babadi and of course Ricardo Pepi.
Assists
The opening goal at Philips Stadium was a combination between two compatriots. Malik received the ball after important work by Luuk de Jong, kept the overview and Ricardo's left foot provided the solution. It is the second time for the midfielder to be the originator of a goal against FC Twente. So far, seven assists have been credited to a substitute. Malik has three in total. Other attackers were Ricardo Pepi, Hirving Lozano, Yorbe Vertessen and Ismael Saibari.
