PSV sees Cody Gakpo score on return and goes over Ajax


Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 2:05 PM• Rian Rosendaal

PSV is the new leader in the Eredivisie. The title candidate from Eindhoven managed to deal with Heracles Almelo in a fairly easy way in its own Philips Stadium: 3-1. Joey Veerman was once again important for the home team with the opening goal. Cody Gakpo graced his return to PSV with a goal, the attacker’s eighth this season. The team of trainer Roger Schmidt is now on 58 points, one point more than number two Ajax. The pursuer from Amsterdam will play against low flyer RKC Waalwijk later this Sunday.

It was a bright start for PSV against the defensive Heracles. After five minutes, Noni Madueke seemed on his way to the early 1-0, but the attacker was stopped by the alert goalkeeper Koen Bucker. PSV kept chasing the visitors after that and the pressing resulted in the opening goal after twenty minutes of play. Madueke managed to reach Veerman and the midfielder, who was the match winner in the cup match against Go Ahead Eagles on Wednesday, scored from the left side of the penalty area: 1-0. In the remainder of the first half, there were still great opportunities for Madueke and Eran Zahavi, but Heracles did not sustain further damage in Eindhoven.

PSV also showed their attacking intentions after the break and a doubling of the lead was inevitable. In the 54th minute. After good preparatory work by Mario Götze and Madueke, the ball ended up with Zahavi, who then left Bucker without a chance with a bang in the short corner: 2-0. Schmidt then decided to take both the accurate Zahavi and the sometimes unlucky Madueke aside. The latter did not seem to be happy with the substitution, just like a week ago. Gakpo, who received applause from the crowd in the Phlips Stadium during his warm-up, appeared on the side of PSV along with Carlos Vinícius.

With about twenty minutes left on the clock, the tension returned for a while. A header from Samuel Armenteros was deflected by the hapless Ibrahim Sangaré. Goalkeeper Joël Dromme was therefore unable to keep the ball out of his goal: 2-1. Another setback for Sangaré, who made a mistake last week with the opening goal of Sparta Rotterdam in the home game against PSV (1-2). However, the midfielder was soon able to breathe a sigh of relief. PSV looked for Heracles’ goal again and it was Götze who had a large share in the third Eindhoven goal. In the penalty area of ​​Heracles he skilfully cut out an opponent, and then put the ball at the far post ready for substitute Gakpo. The attacker then shot the ball into the roof of the goal from close range: 3-1. Heracles’ danger had already passed.

There was no longer any tension in the final phase of the meeting in Eindhoven. Schmidt used another substitution moment to bring in the again fit Armando Obispo, while Ritsu Doan also got playing time. The tired Götze and Mauro Júnior made way for the home team. In injury time, Jong PSV revelation Johan Bakayoko made his debut in the main squad, replacing Veerman. PSV played out the fairly one-sided match calmly and professionally and is now waiting for the result of pursuer Ajax in the home game against RKC later this Sunday. Kick-off in Amsterdam is at 4.45 pm.