PSV won with difficulty on a visit to SC Cambuur. It had to be chased after two minutes, but certainly managed to turn the game around after a red card for the home team. Thanks to goals from Eran Zahavi and Mario Götze it became 1-2 in Leeuwarden.
PSV again did not start a game sharply. And again Schmidt had two strong holders, Ibrahim Sangaré and Cody Gakpo, start on the bench. And again the result was that PSV fell behind early in the game. Anyone reading this will think back to a few weeks ago when PSV lost a big battle in the title fight while visiting FC Twente (3-3).
Then the team trailed 3-0 within half an hour. It wasn’t that bad in Leeuwarden on Saturday evening. But it was SC Cambuur that boldly took the lead. Patrick Joosten scored with the heel. A wonderful goal but it indicated that there was no sharpness in the away team.
PSV woke up with a start and took the initiative in the game. But it was not convincing. It got chances through Eran Zahavi and Ritsu Doan.
Repair work
Still, PSV equalized before half-time. Zahavi scored the 1-1 just before half time on a pass from Andre Ramalho. The goal came at a good moment for the visitors. After the rest, the repair work continued. PSV coach Roger Schmidt brought Ibrahim Sangaré for Joey Veerman.
The people of Eindhoven became more and more dominant, while at Cambuur the pipe was soon empty. After Sekou Sylla had received a second yellow card and had to leave the field, it was only a matter of time before the 1-2. It was also made not much later by Mario Götze. The small midfielder scored with his head from a corner.
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hope gives life
Against a failed Cambuur, PSV obviously did not run into any more problems. Although PSV did not really close the game. It remained 2-1.
Gakpo was allowed to participate for another nine minutes. Yesterday the trainer indicated that he was fit and the attacker also trained with the group on Thursday and Friday. It is therefore still unclear why he started on the bench.
With the win, PSV can still hope for the title. Still, it will have looked frustrated at Ajax. The team from Amsterdam won earlier in the day in the final phase of NEC. The gap to the lead therefore remains four points. May 8 will be circled with red by many enthusiasts and supporters.
After both PSV and Ajax receive a visit from low-flyers next week, a difficult away game awaits both teams a week later. PSV has to go to Feyenoord, Ajax plays against AZ in Alkmaar. It will undoubtedly become clear on that day whether PSV can still hope for the national title.