Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 4:20 PM• Rian Rosendaal

PSV ends the season in the Eredivisie in second place. Trainer Roger Schmidt saw his team draw 1-1 against FC Utrecht and they can therefore no longer be surpassed by AZ. The Alkmaarders won 5-0 against Heracles Almelo and thus come to 71 points, one point behind the competitor from Eindhoven. PSV’s goal difference is also a lot better (eight goals), so that the ticket for the preliminary round of the Champions League for next season is finally in.

It was by no means a great initial phase in De Galgenwaard. PSV only got the first big chance of the match in the 24th minute. Cody Gakpo used his speed and then tailored Eran Zahavi. However, the PSV striker failed in a promising position. The opening goal came eight minutes before the half-time signal on the other side. A viewed free kick from Simon Gustafson ended up with Sander van de Streek, who scored his eleventh goal of the season. For a moment it seemed as if the ball was still being touched by Armando Obispo, but nevertheless the Utrecht midfielder was credited with the goal.

PSV therefore fell behind. The break seemed to work wonders for Schmidt’s team, as Marco van Ginkel’s tying run was completed five minutes after the restart. It was the first goal of the PSV captain since April 7, 2018, 1135 days ago. At the time, Van Ginkel also scored in the shirt of the Eindhoven club. Schmidt made his first substitution of the encounter with Utrecht a few minutes later: Yorbe Vertessen made way for Joël Piroe.

With more than ten minutes left on the clock, Zahavi shot just wide. A short time later, Schmidt granted Shurandy Sambo his debut in the main squad of PSV. The nineteen-year-old fullback took the place of Obispo. Adrián Dalmau could have delivered the full loot to Utrecht with just a few minutes left on the clock. However, the Spanish attacker was unable to outsmart goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo with his shot from close range. PSV seemed to like the draw and the number two in the Eredivisie can now prepare for the second qualifying round of the Champions League.