PSV could have struck an important blow in the battle for the championship, but failed to do so. They lost by large numbers to Ajax.
Warning shots
The battle for the lead broke loose in Amsterdam. With a win, PSV could take over first place in the Eredivisie. Already in the first minutes shots were fired. First by Carlos Vinícius who headed at goal on a cross from Bruma. Then by Eran Zahavi who had a chance at a difficult angle. The warning had been given. Ajax also looked for success but Philipp Max and Ibrahim Sangaré brought some creative solutions to win back possession in the opening stages.
Trailing
After a promising opening phase for PSV, the home side also got its first real chance, and it was a hit. A hard strike was unavoidable for Drommel, putting the 1-0 deficit on the scoreboard. After a short period in which the Amsterdammers were strong, PSV took back the initiative. For example, Olivier Boscagli came very close to equalizing with a clever free kick into the far corner. The duo of Vinícius and Zahavi were also emphatically present in and around Ajax's sixteen-meter area. Things got hot under their feet on the stroke of halftime after chances from the Amsterdammers. It did not result in a goal and 1-0 was also the score at halftime.
Difficult job
The deficit was bridgeable. That's also how PSV started the second half. After just a minute it produced a shot by Mario Götze, but the outreach lacked power. The German made himself important again at an Ajax chance where he threw himself in front of the shot. Götze was also at the forefront of a combination that led to a chance for Vinícius. The game was conducted by PSV, but Ajax managed to add to the pain. A corner kick allowed them to head in for the 2-0, giving PSV a very tough job in the last half hour.
Painful
The job quickly went from difficult to impossible. Out of the tangle, the ball fell well for Ajax, who could easily score the third goal as a result. Some tactical changes were supposed to serve as a breaking point for PSV but the battle seemed to be a long way off. All the more so when the fourth goal for Ajax fell, and in the absolute closing stages also the fifth. An important step in the championship could be taken, but PSV failed to do so.
