Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 6:38 PM• Yanick Vos • Last update: 18:49

PSV was unable to beat sc Heerenveen at home on Sunday: 2-2. The number two in the Eredivisie went to rest with a 0-1 deficit, after which Roger Schmidt intervened hard with three changes. It led to the desired lead, but PSV could not enjoy that for long. A few seconds after Cody Gakpo’s 2-1, it was Siem de Jong who scored and gave Heerenveen a point. Due to the draw, PSV remains in second place, but sees AZ approaching to a point.

While Ajax celebrated their 35th national title, PSV kicked off an important match in the battle for second place. The visitors from Heerenveen had to do without Joey Veerman and Henk Veerman. The two pillars of the Frisians were missing because of a positive corona test. Despite the absence of the midfielder and striker, the team of trainer Johnny Janssen surprisingly took the lead against PSV. After more than half an hour of play, Ibrahim Dresevic managed to find his teammate Tibor Halilovic. The latter was allowed to get far and managed to pass Yvon Mvogo in the far corner. The lead was not even undeserved. PSV offered little in return and could not make a fist from an attacking point of view. Ibrahim Sangaré was the closest to a goal with a long shot to the post.

Schmidt was very dissatisfied with the game of his team and intervened very hard. Pablo Rosario, Eran Zahavi and Nick Viergever were able to take a shower after 45 minutes of play. With Yorbe Vertessen, Noni Madueke and Armando Ibispo, the German trainer brought fresh blood into the lines and the home team did well. The second half was just over ten minutes old when Philipp Max was pushed into the depth on the left flank. The left back had a sharp cross at the front post. Vertessen came in well for his man and scored 1-1 with the help of Lucas Woudenberg. Immediately after kick-off, Rodney Kongolo lost the ball in midfield, after which Gakpo was able to escape. The attacker saw Heerenveen keeper Erwin Mulder out of position and hit hard: 2-1. Gakpo handed over his business card with national coach Frank de Boer in the stands. The PSV winger would have liked a penalty kick when his cross was tapped away by hand by Jan-Paul van Hecke, but the arbitration let it go.

PSV had put things in order in a short time and that led to great relief for the Eindhoven team. However, seconds later it was hit on the other side of the field. Lasse Schöne entered the penalty area and served Siem de Jong, who was close to the equalizer against the ropes. It was the third goal in 129 seconds. The goal against was a sign for PSV to increase the pace even further, with various great opportunities as a result. Donyell Malen, among others, had two good chances, while Vertessen also failed to make his second of the match. Schmidt’s team kept pushing, resulting in multiple possibilities. Heerenveen escaped a deficit fifteen minutes before the end when a corner from PSV was extended, but no one was ready at the far post to work the ball behind Mulder.

With just under ten minutes left on the clock, Woudenberg got a huge chance of the winning goal on behalf of Heerenveen. After good preparatory work by Mitchell van Bergen, he had the ball at the far post before shooting, but the defender hit the ball wrong and saw his bet go over Mvogo’s goal. Woudenberg seemed to want to pass the ball, where he would have done better to attempt a goal himself. Minutes later, Malen escaped from cover and headed on a pass from Jordan Teze, the replacement of the suspended Denzel Dumfries at right back, surprisingly in the short corner, but Mulder was alert and made a nice save. In the sloth phase the game swung up and down. The best chance was for substitute Marco van Ginkel, who lashed out wildly on a pass from Teze and shot well wide.