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Ruling champions PSV enjoyed an emphatic 3-0 win over AZ on Saturday night and the team coached by Guus Hiddink are now back on top of the Eredivisie. Captain Phillip Cocu scored goals on either side of the break and substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink made it three in the closing stages of an entertaining encounter.Phillip CocuPSV showed the same spirit and passion in the Eindhoven Philips Stadium as last season, when they were so successful. PSV hardly conceded anything in the entire game and Arouna Koné was again the star of the night. AZ were reduced to ten men ten minutes from final time, when substitute Ron Vlaar was dismissed by referee Temmink for a second bookable offence on Ibrahim Afellay. Arouna KonéJason Culina, who filled in for Jefferson Farfán, was given a place in the starting line-up. PSV started with Michael Lamey as full left back and Eric Addo was positioned as full right back. The two of them did a great job and the wingers they marked, Tarik Sektioui and Barry van Galen, were substituted on the hour mark. They were replaced by Danny Koevermans and Stein Huijsegems, who could not make an impact and AZ top scorer Shota Arveladze could not impress that much either. The deadlock was broken on the brink of half time, when PSV were supported tremendously by an excited crowd. Soon after Arouna Koné had wasted a great opportunity, the hosts opened the scoring in the next move. Koné found Cocu, who fired home a left footed shot. PSV deserved to be on top, for they had most possession in the first period and showed more initiatives than AZ. Vennegoor of HesselinkKoné was again energetic after the break, in spite of the Ramadan and to the delight of the fans he started a number of great solo runs. Beasley and Afellay also threatened, but it was Koné in particular who entertained the supporters. The Ivory Coast international was at the end of his tether, though, fifteen minutes from final time and so Robert came on to replace him. Afellay was also taken off, following a foul committed by Vlaar. And when AZ had been reduced to ten men, PSV wrapped up things. AZ defender Tim de Cler cleared a Vennegoor of Hesselink effort, but Cocu was in the right place to curl the ball home; 2-0. Soon afterwards DaMarcus Beasley delivered a great cross and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink opened his scoring account in the domestic league this season by tapping home from close range. PSV had an excellent start to a hectic week in which they will also face AC Milan and Ajax. Their self confidence must have been boosted by the impressive 3-0 win.
