PSV is still unassailable in the Eredivisie. The Eindhoven team had no trouble with NEC on Saturday in their own Philips Stadium: 2-0. The visitors played with ten men for over 80 minutes after Kodai Sano was shown a red card. During the break, the supporters applauded the Brabant participants in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
PSV’s Champions League adventure this season starts next Tuesday night at Juventus. However, coach Peter Bosz wants to take it one match at a time, which is why only NEC has been at home in recent days. It soon seemed that the job was done. After ten minutes, Guus Til was brought down in the penalty area. Referee Dennis Higler pointed to the spot and sent Sano off with a red card. Luuk de Jong took advantage of the golden opportunity: 1-0. The 55th Eredivisie match in a row in which PSV scored, which is a new Eredivisie record.
Quick 2-0
The Eindhoven storm did not subside and five minutes later it happened again. On the edge of offside, Guus Til received the ball on a silver platter from Olivier Boscagli and via a Nijmegen leg and the inside of the post his effort went in. It could have gone either way after that. Either PSV tried to run full throttle to a big score or they took their foot off the gas with an eye on the encounter with the Italian powerhouse in three days. It was somewhere in between.
Attacking PSV
PSV dictated and played very attacking. The central defenders were regularly halfway in NEC’s half. The home team looked for gaps in the defence and had a few chances. On the other side, there were also a few breakouts from the visitors. Boscagli almost provided a beautiful end to the first half, but a shot from the central defender exploded on the crossbar. Joey Veerman also threatened the goal, with his shot being cracked.
Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen was loved by PSV supporters. (Photo: ANP, Olaf Kraak)
During the break, all Brabant Olympians were put in the spotlight. One by one, they were called to the center spot, after which a lap of honor followed. Three-time Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen from Luyksgestel showed that he can not only rock the track, but also score on a football field. In an empty goal, but that didn’t bother the enthusiastic fans.
The celebration of the Brabant participants in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Photo: Paul Raats)
Goalless
The second half was much like the first 45 minutes. PSV was dominant, but the NEC wall held up well. Coach Peter Bosz was able to rest a number of important players and in the final phase gave newcomer Adamo Nagalo his debut.
The standings remained unchanged. As a result, the Eindhoven team remains undefeated at the top of the Eredivisie. Next Tuesday, Juventus will face an opponent of a different calibre.
Sylvana van Hees, Harrie Lavreysen, Frederique Matla, Laura Nunnink, Pien Sanders, Niels Vink and Sharon van Rouwendaal (not in the photo) were appointed honorary citizens of Brabant. (Photo: Paul Raats)
