PSV’s last competition victory was on November 6 (2-1 at Ajax). The reigning cup winner then lost to AZ (0-1) and a draw was played against Sparta Rotterdam (0-0) and Fortuna Sittard (2-2).
PSV lost another important attacker with Noni Madueke last week. The young attacker followed Cody Gakpo towards the Premier League and again earned the Eindhoven club many millions.
The title chances have decreased considerably with the departure of the two wingers. PSV wants to strengthen the selection quickly, starting with 20-year-old Portuguese attacker Fábio Silva from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who was already in the stands against Vitesse.
Midfielder Guus Til took over the vacant position from Madueke. Xavi Simons pushed through a line and formed the vanguard together with Luuk de Jong and Anwar El Ghazi. Simons created a threat in the first half with a number of good passes and was one of the few to reach a high level.
PSV’s offensive problems took on even greater proportions before the break. Captain De Jong came into contact with Melle Meulensteen after half an hour of play in an air duel with his head and had to leave the field injured.
A few minutes before, De Jong missed an excellent opportunity to open the score. The striker shot the ball far too softly from a penalty kick. Keeper Kjell Scherpen could easily save. De Jong missed four of his eleven penalty kicks in the Eredivisie.
Til wins victory
Without De Jong, another loss of points threatened. Til brought a solution in the early stages of the second half. In the 48th minute, the former Feyenoord player hit the inside of the post from just outside the penalty area. Scherpen misjudged that ball.
PSV then kept control of the game for quite a long time, but was unable to run any further. Vitesse, with former PSV coach Phillip Cocu, became dangerous twice in the final phase. Goalkeeper Walter Benítez saved on a header from Matus Bero and a shot from Miliano Jonathans. His colleague Scherpen was sent off in stoppage time for a foul on substitute Yorbe Vertessen.
