PSV has taken revenge in the Eredivisie for the big defeat at SC Cambuur (3-0) at the beginning of October. In the home game, the team from Eindhoven again had a hard time with the last half for a half, but after a halftime score of 1-1 in the second half still took distance: 5-2.
It was PSV’s third win in a row in the competition. Because Ajax and AZ also won, the team of coach Ruud van Nistelrooij remains in fourth place. The gap with leader Feyenoord, which receives FC Volendam on Sunday evening, is 3 points.
PSV missed captain Luuk de Jong. The striker sustained an ankle injury in the away match against RKC Waalwijk last week and had not yet recovered from it. The Portuguese Fábio Silva moved on to De Jong’s position and Xavi Simons played up front from the side. A spot became available in midfield for Guus Til.
Joey Veerman got the first chance for PSV. The midfielder encountered goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter in the 13th minute.
The home team played sloppy. After Ibrahim Sangaré lost the ball, Cambuur was able to counter halfway through the first half. Left back Patrick van Aanholt missed the ball, after which Remco Balk was able to place the ball in the bottom right corner: 0-1. Almost immediately afterwards, Balk should have scored the second goal for the Frisians after an error by central defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The attacker shot wide in a promising position.
Cambuur helped PSV back into the game due to a blunder by Mitchel Paulissen. The midfielder thought he could turn away shortly before his own sixteen-meter area. However, Paulissen lost the ball, after which Xavi rounded Simons Ruiter and shot the ball into the goal. Simons is now joint top scorer in the Eredivisie with twelve hits.
PSV saw a goal rejected for offside before the break and Mimoun Mahi shot over on behalf of Cambuur in a promising position.
After the break, the Brabanders still took the game to themselves. Van Aanholt surprised Ruiter in the 54th minute with a shot from just outside the penalty area with the right, and almost immediately substitute Anwar El Ghazi made it 3-1.
Striker Bjørn Johnsen brought back the tension with a striking header, via Sangaré, after an hour of play. After a stupid handball from Leon Bergsma, Silva decided the game in the 64th minute with a penalty kick. El Ghazi scored again in the final phase.
Source: ANP
