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Home > News > PSV coasted to an emphatic 4-1 victory against Excelsior (PSV.nl)

PSV coasted to an emphatic 4-1 victory against Excelsior (PSV.nl)

25 nov 2007 - Source: PSV.nl

This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl


PSV are on top of the Eredivisie for at least one day after they comfortably coasted to an emphatic 4-1 victory against Excelsior at Woudestein on Saturday night. Bakkal, Koevermans, Lazovic and Perez (penalty) all got their names on the score sheet for the Eindhoven outfit. On Sunday afternoon, the first-team squad will fly to Moscow, where PSV face CSKA on Tuesday night in a crucial UEFA Champions League group stage encounter.

Referee Van Sichem, who was involved in some controversial penalty incidents, stamped his mark on the game, but PSV were never in danger of being on the wrong end of a bad result and returned to winning ways after the international break. PSV will fly to Moscow as Eredivisie leaders, but nearest rivals Ajax and Feyenoord still have one game in hand. Ibrahim Afellay and Jason Culina made their comebacks in Rotterdam on a bleak night in November. They proved to be match fit and will make the trip to Moscow, where PSV need a good result against CSKA to keep their Champions League dreams alive. Caretaker coach Jan Wouters guided his team to the first victory since he took over from Ronald Koeman.
PSV started a great many moves at Woudestein in the initial stages, with Perez and Bakkal creating early chances. After Excelsior had survived some scary moments, they bravely started some counter attacks and Pardo and Korf tested goalkeeper Gomes. Yet PSV dominated proceedings and they took the lead on 23 minutes, when Perez set up Bakkal, who had spun away from his marker before slotting home his first goal of the season: 0-1. Perez came close to doubling the visitors' advantage, but Excelsior goalkeeper Graafland made a great save from a free kick and he did well to deny Perez in a one-on one situation with the Danish playmaker. Excelsior had a claim for a penalty waved away, as referee Van Sichem judged Kromkamp had not committed a foul on Den Ouden.
PSV virtually wrapped up the game within two minutes after the break. After 57 minutes, Lazovic turned provider for Koevermans, who controlled the ball on his chest before blasting home, taking his season's tally to seven goals. Only minute later Zonneveld delivered a sharp cross for Koevermans. The striker headed the ball on to Lazovic, who scored from close range; 0-3. With PSV in the driver's seat, Jan Wouters brought on Culina and Afellay, withdrawing Salcido and Koevermans. Salcido gave the captain's armband to goalkeeper Gomes. Excelsior pulled one back from the spot after Zonneveld had handled the ball inside the box. Gomes saved Pardo's spot kick, but the Chilean himself pounced on the rebound; 1-3.

Fifteen minutes from time PSV won a penalty at the other end after Piqué had held Lazovic. Perez stepped up to convert the penalty, scoring his fifth goal of the season; 1-4. Soon afterwards the Dane was taken off and Zeefuik left the bench to replace him. So in the closing stages PSV fielded five players that had come through the youth ranks in Eindhoven: Aissati, Afellay, Bakkal, Marcellis and Zeefuik. PSV calmly controlled the game and did not take any risks, knowing they had bagged another three points.