PSV joined the last four in the TOTO KNVB Cup on Wednesday with great conviction. Noni Madueke returned from a hamstring injury against NAC Breda and clearly brought new impetus to Roger Schmidt’s team with his flashy game. Madueke opened the scoring and also provided an assist to Mario Götze, who scored twice in total. After the break, Cody Gakpo provided the final chord with a wonderful shot: 4-0. PSV will in any case play out in the semi-finals, as it was previously determined.
Prior to the game, it became clear that Joël Drommel is again the number one under the bar at PSV. The keeper was again preferred over Yvon Mvogo, who made a hopeless mistake against AZ (1-2). The PSV supporters reacted cynically to Drommel’s return: every catch, even the simplest one, was greeted with loud cheers. In addition to Madueke, Eran Zahavi also got his first base place this calendar year, after the Israeli came in three short times. Zahavi was out for months with a knee injury.
† The only shot of @NACnl in the first half… ?? pic.twitter.com/XZLUt3tDvb
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) February 8, 2022
Unlike in the previous two cup matches, PSV started energetically. Madueke was constantly threatening with the ball at his feet and scored in the eighth minute. The right attacker did that for the first time in his career with the head after a half touched corner kick: 1-0. It then rained opportunities for the Eindhoven team, who completely outclassed NAC. Cody Gakpo saw a dangerous punch and header being tagged away; Érick Gutiérrez fired a volley at the post, while Olivier Boscagli hit the crossbar with his head.
A handy bow from Zahavi on Gakpo led to the 2-0 after half an hour. Gakpo crossed for Mario Götze, who artistically turned away from his opponent and tapped in. Just before half time, the decision was already made, when Madueke passed Sabir Agougil in the penalty area cleverly outside and offered Götze a pass again: 3-0. Schmidt didn’t take any chances with Madueke and replaced the Englishman at half time.
Ritsu Doan, his replacement, should have scored immediately, but lingered too long and then shot at goalkeeper Nick Olij. Dangerous headers from Boscagli and Gutiérrez were also narrowly kept out of the goal by NAC and Gakpo shot straight at Olij after a wonderful assumption. The PSV captain made up for that by coming in from the left moments later and hitting the far corner with a beautiful shot: 4-0. Gakpo was immediately substituted for Johan Bakayoko, who made his debut for PSV and immediately almost scored, but just missed.