PSV coach Peter Bosz hoped that his team could show the high level of the first half of the competition in the first competition match of 2024. He was not disappointed until the mediocre final phase, because the Eindhoven team were too strong for Excelsior: 3-1. Striker Luuk de Jong was responsible for all of PSV’s goals. The seventeenth win in a row from the start of the competition gave the club an equaling of its own record from the 1987/1988 season.
Excelsior knew from the first minute that it would be a very difficult evening. PSV was not one, but several sizes too big. Within 17 minutes it was already 2-0 thanks to two goals from Luuk de Jong.
The first was a tap-in when goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel released a header from André Ramalho, the second goal was a header into the far corner after a good cross from left back Sergino Dest.
After just over half an hour, Guus Til seemed to have decided the game definitively, but the goal was disallowed for offside. That offside was so close that the referee was called to the screen by the VAR. Til was close to making it 3-0 just before half time, but Van Gassel tipped the header past his goal.
Missed opportunities
Even after the break it was one-way traffic towards Van Gassel’s goal. There were certainly opportunities, but Til, Jordan Teze and Malik Tillman missed them. After more than an hour of play, Johan Bakayoko was given a huge opportunity after preparatory work by Tillman, which he shot just wide. In the 69th minute, De Jong set a good example by sliding in his third: 3-0. His 164th goal in the Eredivisie and he is therefore in the top ten of all-time top scorers.
Fifteen minutes before the end it was over for the striker and Ricardo Pepi came on in his place. Noa Lang also received playing minutes, making his return after a hamstring injury. Hirving Lozano was still missing from the selection, but is training.
Due to the many substitutions, the level dropped and Excelsior scored the goal of honor through Derensili Saches Fernandes: 3-1. PSV keeper Walter Benitez even prevented the 3-2 with a good save. The second Rotterdam goal also came, but was canceled due to offside.
Until the goal was conceded, Bosz had no choice but to enjoy his team, although the 3-0 was a poor reflection of the difference in strength. His team gave almost nothing away at the back and Jerdy Schouten, Joey Veerman and Guus Til dominated in midfield.
Up front, Bakayoko and Tillman showed several times that wing backs have an unpleasant evening when they face PSV. And then in the striker the very strong Luuk de Jong, who has fifteen competition goals and is therefore involved in the battle for top scorers. But the final phase in which Excelsior came on strongly must worry the PSV coach.
Record
FC Utrecht is the next opponent in the competition on Sunday, January 21. If PSV wins, it will break its winning record. In between, the Eindhoven team will play at home against FC Twente in the TOTO KNVB Cup on Wednesday evening. And this prize is also on the wish list of the people of Brabant.