Football United

A great atmosphere, a sell-out crowd and at times a good display in the Eindhoven Philips Stadium were the main ingredients of a thrilling top clash between PSV and Ajax. The Eindhoven team continued to do what they had been doing in many previous years: enjoy a victory over their Amsterdam rivals. This afternoon they collected a 2-0 win, courtesy to goals by Lee and de Jong, scored on either side of the break.



There was quite a lot of tension surrounding this match, due to events in Den Haag a week before, but referee Dick van Egmond had a relatively quiet afternoon in Eindhoven. The hosts started passionately and soon created the first opportunity, when a Farfán free kick was deviated by an Ajax defender. PSV also tried their luck by some long range efforts in the initial stages.
Midway the first period PSV lost control, in particular by some sloppy moments in the rear guard. There were some fine challenges between Rosales and Lamey and Van der Vaart was always threatening the PSV defence, where genuine defenders such as Ooijer and Alex were missing, as they had both picked up injuries. Ajax were unlucky, when the Amsterdam captain captain was adjudged to have been off-side, which was a very controversial decision, the more so as he had already rounded PSV keeper Gomes. The visitors got their biggest opportunity on 35 minutes: Trabelsi delivered a cross from the right flank, but Cocu cleared the ball in the nick of time. Five minutes before the break PSV took the lead. A fine move was started and eventually the South Korean defender was put clear. He superbly rounded Trabelsi, the only defender left and fired home at the near post. Ajax keeper Lobont touched the ball, but could not prevent the opening goal.



Soon after the restart PSV doubled the advantage. Lee produced the cross and John de Jong headed home at the far post. The ball may have crossed the line, before Lee gave the assist, but both the referee and his assistant waved play on. Ajax keeper Lobont unfortunately had to be stretchered off the pitch on 55 minutes. When he had left his goal to thwart Park, he jumped up so high that he fell down awkwardly, outside the box, and had to be replaced by the third Ajax goalkeeper, Hans Vonk. PSV player John de Jong also had to be taken off, following some fouls committed on him earlier in the game and Beasley came on for him. It was an open game by now and the home crowd had some very good times. Ajax piled up the pressure and came close to the goal defended by Gomes a few times. Just like his colleague at the other end, Gomes had to be taken off, after he had sustained, what looked like a groin injury.

PSV surprisingly created the better opportunities in the final fifteen minutes and five minutes’ added time. PSV have now created a ten point cushion with their Amsterdam rivals, whose hopes of winning the title for the second season in a row have now been hugely dented.

Goals: 39 Lee, 49 John de Jong

Source: PSV.nl