In a goal-rich game, PSV managed a 2-4 win over AZ. Luuk de Jong scored three times in PSV's tenth consecutive win.
Super start PSV
Although Jeroen Zoet had to make several saves in the first two minutes to prevent a deficit, it was PSV that immediately scored the desired opening goal. A shot by Georginio Wijnaldum was blocked, but De Jong shot the rebound convincingly: 0-1. Five minutes later it was back on track. De Jong scored again, this time from a corner by Jetro Willems. He headed the ball beautifully into the cross: 0-2. It took a while for AZ to recover. The team of head coach John van den Brom then pushed to find the tying goal, after Memphis was also dangerous twice. AZ hit the crossbar and Zoet parried shots by Berghuis. Five minutes before halftime, the PSV goalkeeper was defenseless when Markus Henriksen made it 1-2 after a well-plotted attack.
A full away box in Alkmaar, with supporters dressed mostly in carnival attire | © Pics United
Hat-trick De Jong
With all those chances back and forth in the first half, it promised to be an exciting second half and it became just that. After a few minutes Robert Mühren had shot the equalizer behind Zoet and AZ thought there was more to come. However, it was PSV that took the lead again through Wijnaldum. A measured cross from Willems was tapped in from the air by the captain: 2-3. A minute later, De Jong completed his hat trick. He slid a Luciano Narsingh cross past AZ goalkeeper Esteban: 2-4. AZ did not give up and tried their best to force the 3-4. There were chances, but substitute Muamer Tankovic and others went just wide. In the last quarter of an hour, PSV held their ground fairly easily and had chances for more. A fourth was not possible for De Jong and Narsingh was unable to convert Esteban, leaving a 2-4 result on the scoreboard.
Joy among PSV players after two early goals by De Jong | © Pics United
Equaling record
The victory at AZ marked the tenth win in a row in the Eredivisie for PSV, equaling the record from October 2009 to January 2010. Moreover, PSV is still unbeaten after the winter break and has not lost sixteen matches in a row. The last defeat was at sc Heerenveen: 1-0. That was also the last time PSV did not score in an Eredivisie match.