In the first half it seemed to be an exciting game, but PSV recovered well against FC Groningen. They won 5-2 at the Philips Stadium.
Bizarre opening phase
In the first ten minutes, the Groningen defense quickly looked for space. It was Cody Gakpo who was the first to find an opening. The attacker managed to move himself cleverly into the sixteen-meter area and lashed in for the opening goal. Goalkeeper Leeuwenburgh had no chance. However, it did not take long for the visitors to make themselves heard. A Groningen cross fell at the feet of Ibrahim Sangaré, who was unable to clear. The visitors took advantage and the equalizer fell. Then FC Groningen took the lead. Joël Drommel managed to turn away an effort, but was without a chance on the rebound.
Rain of goals
The equalizer was in the air. First the VAR checked whether PSV was entitled to a penalty, but ruled it was not. The opportunities lay in the standard situations. After a corner kick, the equalizer came via André Ramalho. The defender headed straight at goal. Mohamed El Hankouri tried to clear on behalf of the Groningers, but headed the effort into his own net. Just before halftime, PSV went through to take the lead into their own hands. After an impressive combination, Gakpo was able to strike, but a Groningen foot narrowly blocked the shot. Still, there was the lead. Again it was Ramalho's header that PSV took advantage of, again from a corner kick. With a narrow lead they could return to the dressing rooms.
VAR
PSV came out of the locker room the freshest. In the first minutes of the second half, the team unleashed two very dangerous shots on Leeuwenburgh's goal. First through Gakpo, then through Marco van Ginkel. The enlarged lead was finally there. A very nice pass from Gakpo reached Eran Zahavi, after a clever cross from substitute Yorbe Vertessen. The striker deliciously slid the ball in from distance. VAR added suspense to the decision, as Vertessen was thought to have touched the ball and caused offside. The same VAR kept the tension high. A subsequent foul on Gakpo was not assessed as a penalty kick, after viewing the footage the assessment remained in place.
Counts
FC Groningen became bolder toward the end of the match. The control was mainly on the red and white side, yet the team from the north was not without danger. A shot on goal from a free kick was taken from close range, but Drommel parried the ball and kept the overview. VAR was also emphatically present in the closing stages. substitute Bruma came face-to-face with Leeuwenburgh and scored beautifully, but the video referee ruled that the Portuguese was offside. As a result of VAR's frequent intervention, no less than seven more minutes came, during which worthy attempts were made by Mario Götze and Bruma. In the end, the Portuguese did account for a goal. After a fine run, he ruthlessly lashed out and made the fifth. This one did count. Right after that the final signal followed and PSV can look at nine points from three games.
