PSV failed to reach the final of the KNVB Cup. The Eindhoven team was defeated by NEC in the semi-finals. In Nijmegen a spectacular match ended 3-2. Due to this loss, PSV no longer has a chance of winning the Dutch treble.
Peter Bosz surprisingly started the match without Ricardo Pepi. The striker has just returned from an injury and has already been on the bench for two games in a row, but Myron Boadu was once again preferred at the point of attack. Armando Obispo improved on time and also started.
After six minutes, NEC came out dangerous on the counter. Sami Ouaissa was sent away towards Matej Kovar’s goal. The keeper was able to save a dangerous shot, but saw the ball fall for Bryan Linssen on the rebound. The striker kicked the ball over the goalie and PSV were soon in pursuit.
Equalizer
We knew that PSV can also score goals, but ten minutes later the equalizer was already on the board. Ivan Perisic crossed for Ismael Saibari and the midfielder headed PSV level.
Five minutes later Dennis Man got the ball just outside the box. The Romanian shot the ball hard across the ground into the corner, allowing NEC keeper Jasper Cillessen to fish the ball out of the net for the second time in five minutes.
It was impossible to keep up in this semi-final. NEC put PSV under a lot of pressure, as Peter Bosz predicted, and even got the Eindhoven team way back in their own half several times. After 37 minutes, the home team had a nice run in the PSV box, with the ball falling in front of Noe Lebreton’s ball. Once again Kovar made a nice save, after which the ball was not cleared properly. The ball fell twenty meters from the goal on the shoe of Eli Dasa, who made it 2-2 with a beautiful volley.
NEC in the lead again
At the start of the second half, PSV had a mega opportunity through the head of Myron Boadu. However, the striker’s header was stopped just before the line by Cillessen. Paul Wanner subsequently escaped unscathed. He was holding Tjaronn Chery. The NEC player had broken through, but referee Serdar Gözübüyük ‘only’ punished it with a yellow card.
In the sixtieth minute, Noe Lebreton swung a dangerous cross into the Eindhoven team’s sixteen. Basar Önal reacted faster than the PSV defenders and tapped the ball into the goal. 3-2, but given the match situation it would be strange if it stayed at that.
After the goal, it was up to Ricardo Pepi to show his qualities. PSV had a great heading opportunity through Perisic. But he also hit Cillessen. NEC substitute Youssef El Kachati went alone to Kovar after a mistake by Mauro Júnior. The PSV goalkeeper once again emerged as the winner. In the final minutes Perisic had another mega opportunity, but he shot over.
PSV did everything they could to equalize and even battering ram Obispo could no longer get the ball into the net. The score was 3-2 in a swirling De Goffert stadium.
No treble
Due to this loss, Peter Bosz’s team no longer has a chance of winning the Dutch ‘treble’, where a team wins all the prizes that can be won (Johan Cruijff Scale, Eredvisie and KNVB Cup) in our country.
On Saturday, PSV can take a new step towards the national championship. Then AZ will visit the Philips Stadium.
