PSV won the Johan Cruijff Scale on Saturday evening in a crazy way. In a match that really had everything in it, the team of debuting coach Ruud van Nistelrooij managed to beat national champion Ajax 3-5. Newcomer Guus Til was the big man on the side of the Eindhoven team with three goals.
Eindhoven’s confidence was high in the run-up to the prestige duel with Ajax. But there was very little of this to be seen at first. Van Nistelrooij’s team was sloppy and did not escape the fierce pressure from Ajax. This resulted in four dangerous chances for the team from Amsterdam.
Goal former PSV player Steven Bergwijn
After fifteen minutes, PSV still got the lid on its nose. Former PSV player Steven Bergwijn, who moved to Ajax for a record amount this summer, was given the time and space to curl the ball beautifully behind Walter Benítez. For example, the people of Eindhoven rightly looked at a 1-0 deficit.
The game picture after the opening goal remained the same. After half an hour there was little positive to report about PSV’s game. Until newcomer Guus Til headed in a cross from Cody Gakpo out of nowhere in the 32nd minute. A goal that literally and figuratively fell from the sky.
The first real PSV chance resulted in a goal for the team. Something that clearly strengthened the cup winner. Barely two minutes later, the Eindhoven team was once again dangerous when Gakpo hit the outside of the post from a distance. The Van Nistelrooij formation finally seemed awake.
The final phase of the first half brought a lot of spectacle on both sides. In the same way as the equalizer, Til seemed to head PSV ahead. But the midfielder missed the opportunity. Moments later, goalkeeper Benítez showed his class. The Argentinian kept PSV going with two great saves.
PSV can’t complain
These saves could be crucial. Because right after that, the people of Eindhoven suddenly took the lead. Til headed the ball against the ropes, again on a pass from Gakpo. PSV certainly couldn’t complain with the lead.
The spectacle continued into the early stages of the second half. The match rocked in all directions. PSV suffered damage again in the 53rd minute. Ajax striker Antony was the end station of a quick attack by the team from Amsterdam: 2-2.
Up and over, the Ajax crowd seemed to think. It was all the more surprising that PSV took the lead again. A distance shot from Armando Obispo was badly handled by Ajax keeper Jay Gorter. In the rebound, Gakpo once again put PSV in the lead.
The Eindhoven party kept going when Til, thanks to Ajax player Edson Álvarez, completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute. Unprecedented opulence for PSV in a match that got crazier and crazier. Barely two minutes later, the ball was in again and on the other side. Substitute Mohammed Kudus made the connecting goal: 3-4.
Red card for Ajax substitute
And that was not the end of this match. The moment you thought that an Amsterdam storm was imminent, Ajax had to continue with ten men. Substitute Calvin Bassey was shown a justified red card for a foul on Ismael Saibari.
As a result, the Eindhoven victory came closer and closer. Especially after substitute and debutant Xavi Simons also signed for the 3-5. PSV had already failed to strike several times before that. Nobody cared about that in the Eindhoven branch: the party could begin. And that party only got more intense. Because after 99 minutes, the game was over and PSV was the winner of the Johan Cruijff Scale for the second year in a row. It was the most goal-rich encounter for this award ever.