After reaching the next round of the Conference League in Israel, the away game against Sparta Rotterdam was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. It turned out to be a match with two completely different faces. But after a good second half, PSV deservedly took the three points back to Eindhoven.
Zahavipromising
Just over a year ago, it was 5-3 for PSV on the snowy pitch of the empty Kasteel. Today, that snow had given way to a clear blue sky and a well-filled away section. Under the vocal accompaniment of the travelling fans and the Spartan club song, referee Jeroen Manschot whistled for the kickoff. The home side looked, in the early stages, for space on the flanks, but PSV's defense was impenetrable. At the other end, it was Eran Zahavi who fired the first shot of the match. Five minutes later, the striker had another chance, but goalkeeper Maduka Okoye turned his effort away. Sparta Rotterdam, meanwhile, lurked on the counterattack, but barely got past the center line.
Physical continuation
With just under half an hour on the clock, PSV was awarded a free kick in a promising position. Olivier Boscagli was able to set up the Sparta goalkeeper with his shot, but he performed his task well. After that it was Sparta that, against the odds, took the spectacle position off the scoreboard. The match had a somewhat messy continuation. It became a lot more physical and so the game was regularly stopped. PSV was unable to get back into the rhythm it had been in for so long. Towards the end of the first half, it nevertheless became dangerous again with a number of crosses. Mario Götze even seemed to have the ball in front of him, after a cross from Noni Madueke. However, the ball bounced just in front of his feet, causing his shot to fly over.
New momentum
With Ritsu Doan for Yorbe Vertessen, PSV kicked off the second half. In front of the noses of the fanatical away supporters was Okoye's goal, the place where things had to happen for the next 45 minutes. Yet in the early stages, it was the home team that became dangerous. That momentum reversed when Spartan Arno Verschuren picked up a red in the 51st minute after he flattened Eran Zahavi with a special tackle. PSV regained complete control of the game and just needed to convert the combination play around the sixteen into goals. Mauro Júnior had taken that motto to heart when, in the 60th minute, he struck devastatingly from the edge of the penalty area. The crowd erupted in joy and would chant the Brazilian's name for a long time to come. PSV had the match completely in their own hands again.
Storm in The Castle
Head coach Roger Schmidt's team made Het Kasteel storm under a clear sky. A storm that the home team could not contain. After several chances, it was substitute Doan who claimed a dropped ball and fired it into the ropes. And so PSV had completely turned the deficit of the first half around in less than half an hour. In the final phase of the match, every PSV player would have held his breath for a moment when the Rotterdammers had a header, but Drommel would not score another goal in the second half.
