PSV received a boost in the run-up to the match, when it became clear that Ajax had missed two points in the away match against AZ, giving the Eindhoven team the chance to catch up with the leader. In view of this, it was not a disadvantage for PSV that the match was moved to late in the afternoon from the point of view of Feyenoord’s European obligations. The starting position was therefore crystal clear for the number two before the start of the match.
At PSV André Ramalho had not made it to the squatter in De Kuip. The Brazilian defender’s ankle complaints were still too serious. Just like against Willem II, midfielder Erick Gutierrez, who was dragged back one line, played in his place. Compared to a week earlier, Mario Götze, who was ill at the time, returned to the squad.
The Feyenoord team was enthusiastically received by the home crowd, who cheered their favorites for reaching the Conference League final last Thursday. The chants ‘We are going to Tirana’ and ‘Finale’ sounded in De Kuip and speaker Peter Houtman announced Feyenoord as ‘one of the first finalists ever of the Conference League’. Slot had chosen to field the same eleven players as in Marseille.
The question beforehand was what the impact of Thursday’s efforts would have on Feyenoord. PSV did not count themselves rich in advance, bearing in mind their own performance in the KNVB cup final, when the Eindhoven players were too strong for Ajax despite the European duel with Leicester City a few days earlier.
Slot and Schmidt
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Impact
But in the case of Feyenoord, the impact of the tough away game in the Conference League semi-final against Olympique Marseille turned out to be great. PSV started the match very energetically and pushed Feyenoord back into their own half. Where Slot’s team normally plays initiative football and puts pressure on it fanatically, nothing came of it now. It was PSV that set the tone, helped by Feyenoord, which had a lot of sloppy ball loss.
PSV already had good opportunities in the opening phase via Cody Gakpo, Eran Zahavi and Ritsu Doan and Gakpo opened the score in the 16th minute. After surrendering Orkun Kökcü, Joey Veerman sent Gakpo away with a wonderful pass. The PSV captain gave Lutsharel Geertruida an excellent assumption and blasted the ball behind Feyenoord goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, before Gernot Trauner could intervene (0-1).
Cody Gakpo was the man in the cockpit
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Wind in the sails
The opening goal gave PSV an extra boost and in the 29th minute Gakpo doubled the lead. After a gossamer combination with Zahavi, the Eindhoven resident beat Rotterdam goalkeeper Marciano with a marker (0-2). It was Gakpo’s twelfth Eredivisie goal this season, making it PSV’s club top scorer.
The difference in level in the first 45 minutes was big. Slot’s team has never played such a waiting first half at home this season. The Feyenoord trainer intervened hard in the break and brought in three fresh forces. With Jens Toornstra, Patrik Walemark and Bryan Linssen in the squad for Kökcü, Guus Til and Reiss Nelson, Feyenoord showed a completely different face.
Cody Gakpo screams out in the cockpit.
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Rotterdam urge to act
It was the home team that took the initiative in the first phase after the break and PSV had a hard time. Luis Sinisterra was close to the connection goal, but ran into PSV goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo.
After the stormy initial phase of the second half, PSV managed to escape the pressure from Feyenoord, but it remained a much more even match than in the first 45 minutes. Zahavi could have nipped the Rotterdam urge for action in the bud by scoring a third PSV goal, but the striker was put in front of an empty goal by Geertruida, who made the save with a daring sliding.
Questionable penalty kick
On the other side, Mvogo was the savior several times. The Swiss goalkeeper, who had to wait so long for his chance this season, showed his value with good saves on bets by Cyriel Dessers. Three times, Mvogo emerged victorious, ensuring that the margin of two remained intact.
It continued to shiver for PSV, which had completely lost control after the break and was forced into the defensive by Feyenoord. Slot continued to pump fresh forces into the squad with Marcus Pedersen and Philippe Sandler, who made his debut for Feyenoord, while Schmidt waited a long time to make a substitution. It was only in the final phase that the German trainer brought in attacker Bruma as a replacement for Zahavi. Sinisterra was still close to the connecting goal, but his shot went just over. In the 87th minute it was finally hit, when Dessers headed in the 1-2.
It became very shaky for PSV and in the absolute final seconds of injury time, the Eindhoven building collapsed and with it the chance of the title. The referee put the ball on the spot for hands and Dessers plunged PSV into mourning by using the penalty.