PSV started the second half of the season as it ended the first: winning. This time Excelsior had to believe it. At halftime it was already 4-1. Ricardo Pepi was injured while scoring his goal and had to leave the field in great pain. In the end it became 5-1.
With a wind chill of -6 and a number of empty seats, the second half of the season in the Eredivisie kicked off in the Philips Stadium. Jerdy Schouten was in the stands, he was suspended. Ryan Flamingo took his place in the heart of the defense. Furthermore, the ‘regular names’, without the Africa Cup participants, were in the starting line-up.
PSV didn’t seem to be bothered by the cold. Dennis Man moved in after four minutes and aimed for the post. The Romanian returned sharply from the training camp in Spain, as a few minutes later he put the ball back to Paul Wanner, who only had to slide in. The midfielder did that and it quickly became 1-0 in Eindhoven.
Goal and injury for Pepi
There was nothing wrong with the very cold air for PSV. The ball remained in the possession of the Eindhoven team and they had to wait for the 2-0. That lasted until minute 23. After a good attack, Guus Til unselfishly delivered the ball to Ricardo Pepi in front of the goal. The American striker was able to get the ball just over the goal line with great difficulty, but fell incorrectly and injured his arm. He had to leave the field in great pain and Couhaib Driouch was the replacement.
It promised to be a very easy evening for PSV, in which the fans who came to the stadium despite the cold would get their money’s worth. After half an hour, Yarek Gasiorowski headed in a cross from Mauro Júnior and it was already 3-0. PSV didn’t think that was enough for halftime. A corner from Joey Veerman ended up on the head of Flamingo, who headed it in to make it 4-0.
Coincidentally, the news came out before the match that PSV had appointed Kevin Balvers as set pieces specialist. We will see in the coming weeks whether it will immediately pay off with these two goals, or whether it is pure coincidence.
Excelsior could no longer overcome this lead and for PSV it was important to keep a clean sheet, but that wish quickly went up in smoke. In injury time of the first half, the ball ended up in front of the PSV goal at Ilias Bronkhort and out of nowhere he made the halftime score 4-1.
The spectacle of the first half had completely disappeared in the second act. PSV thought it was enough and Excelsior occasionally came for the Eindhoven goal, but did nothing with it. The only one who still wanted to do it was Dennis Man. He slalomed past three defenders in minute 65 and also got the ball past Stijn van Gassel. The final score was 5-1 and PSV remains the leader with at least eleven points difference.
To Den Bosch
PSV will play its next match on Wednesday. A Brabant squatter in the Vliert for the KNVB Cup. PSV will then visit FC Den Bosch to compete for a place in the quarter-finals.