PSV won 1-0 against Go Ahead Eagles. The Eindhoven team started the match strongly and took an early lead through Dest. After that, it missed many opportunities, which kept it exciting. Despite a red card for Obispo in the final phase, PSV remained upright and took home the three points.
PSV and Go Ahead Eagles started the match stormy after a beautiful minute of silence for Kees Rijvers. The former PSV coach died last Monday at the age of 97. The Breda native had been very important in building PSV into the club it is today.
Both teams wanted to entertain the crowd and that was not surprising when you look at the rankings. PSV is well on its way to the title with a ten-point lead over Feyenoord. Go Ahead Eagles are having a dream season and are in sixth place.
High speed
So there was nothing to lose for both teams and that was reflected on the field. The pace was very high. PSV had the biggest chances and perhaps should have been 3-0 ahead after half an hour. It only managed to take advantage of one of the many opportunities: left back Sergino Dest pulled in and shot flawlessly into the long corner.
After half an hour the match slowed down a bit. PSV loosened the reins more and Go Ahead Eagles sporadically became dangerous in the transition. After three quarters of the game, the home team was close to the equalizer. Thibo Baeten was able to make his way to goalkeeper Walter Benitez, but the PSV goalie made a neat save.
Exciting final phase
It was reason for the fanatical supporters in De Adelaarshorst to get behind the home team. Yet it was PSV that took control in time, but the story remained that the chances were not created. PSV was only able to make a big impact against PEC Zwolle in recent weeks. In other matches, missing chances was a problem.
This kept it exciting with only a one-goal margin. The crowd in Deventer asked for all or nothing and those cries became louder when two minutes before the end Armando Obispo had to leave the field with a red card.
Yet PSV miraculously stayed upright because Mauro Junior took a ball off the line in injury time. And so Dest’s goal was enough to travel to Dortmund with a relatively good feeling. The cracker awaits there in the eighth final of the Champions League on Wednesday. The winner of that match will qualify for the quarter-finals.