PSV booked the ‘expected’ annual home win against FC Utrecht on Saturday evening. Despite a quick deficit, the Eindhoven team won 4-1 against the number four in the Eredivisie. Also due to the contribution of the recovered Cody Gakpo and the fumbling of FC Utrecht goalie Maarten Paes.
PSV and home games against FC Utrecht: it always yields three points. Saturday’s victory was already the 25th (!) in a row in the Philips Stadium, a record series from a PSV perspective, only Ajax ever recorded a longer series (31 home win against Go Ahead Eagles). Nevertheless, in the initial phase it did not look like PSV was going to win for a while. The team started poorly, Mike van der Hoorn nodded hard after 12 minutes from a corner after Carlos Vinícius let him go: 0-1.
Would the record series come to an end after all? No, PSV recovered and were lucky that the first attempt on goal was immediately hit. Cody Gakpo, who returned from injury, hit hard, goalkeeper Paes made a mistake for the first time. A boost for PSV and Gakpo, who, like Jordan Teze and Noni Madueke, has recovered.
fiddling Paes
Davy Pröpper (knee) and Mario Götze (back) were missing against FC Utrecht, the latter was missed the most. Although: after the 1-1 it went easier for PSV, which took the lead before half-time: this time André Ramalho took advantage of a blunder from the fiddling Paes. Bruma and Vinícius then ravaged the post, but it remained 2-1 before half time.
In the second half, Ritsu Doan showed his form and it was quickly seen. The Japanese first shot at goalkeeper Paes from close range and two minutes later, with a quick shot, he put the 3-1 in the short corner. The final chord was for Philipp Mwene, who determined the final score at 4-1 after a very fine chop from the outstanding Doan.
Europa League cracker
That was it. And so PSV is two points behind leader Ajax after fifteen matches. With the 4-1 win over FC Utrecht, Roger Schmidt’s team gained some extra confidence in the run-up to the important Europa League match with Real Sociedad.
,,In the beginning we were a bit sloppy, we lost the ball a bit too often,” said PSV captain. Cody Gakpo after the game at ESPN. “We played well in the second half. The most important thing is that we win.”
The attacker is fit again after an ankle injury and was immediately in the starting lineup: ,,The trainer wanted me to start and I felt good enough. And even now I still feel good.”
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