Football United

PSV had a bright start to another tough week with three fixtures (against Heerenveen, Olympique Lyon and Ajax). They pulled off an emphatic 4-1 win over the Frisian side in the Eindhoven Philips Stadium on Saturday night. Koné scored a double and Cocu and Alex also found the net.



No danger
By this convincing win, PSV have maintained their leading position in the Dutch league and they seem to be well on their way to clinching the title this season again. Beforehand Heerenveen were considered to be tough opponents, but the team coached by Guus Hiddink was never really in danger. Arouna Koné, who scored a double, has now taken his season’s tally to five goals and Alex scored the most beautiful goal of the night by superbly blasting home a free kick. With seven games to play, PSV have a 10-point lead over Feyenoord who will face FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon.

and injury Reiziger
PSV did not make any changes to the team that beat AZ last weekend, but Michael Reiziger had to be taken off, when there were only seven minutes on the clock. The full right back broke a bone in a finger during a fierce challenge. He went straight to the dressing room and the Englishman Michael Ball left the bench to take over. Michael Lamey was now played right back. Heerenveen created the first chance of the game, but Gomes and Addo did well to thwart the effort of former PSV player Arnold Bruggink.

Koné and Cocu
The pace of the game was fairly high and as both teams created enough space, the crowd enjoyed an entertaining game. Koné, Cocu and Vennegoor of Hesselink (who was one-for-one with goalkeeper Vandenbussche) missed chances. The deadlock was finally broken on 37 minutes. It was not the first time that a PSV goal was scored from a set piece. A well-struck Culina free kick was headed on into the goal. Arouna Koné, who had scored a hat trick in this seasons’ reverse encounter, took the celebrations. A few minutes later Philips Stadium erupted again: captain Cocu collected a long ball one minute before half time, accelerated and his powerful effort from some fifteen yards went home; 2-0.

Goals: 37 Koné (1-0); 41 Cocu (2-0); 63 De Vries (2-1); 75 Alex (3-1); 83 Koné (4-1)

Eredevisie

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. PSV 27 69
2. Feyenoord 27 62
3. AZ 27 58
4. Ajax 27 49
5. Groningen 27 44

Source: psv.nl