NEC Breda took top spot of the Eredivisie race with a confident 2-1 defeat of PSV in a scoreline that was flattering to Huub Steven's men. PSV's effort lacked conviction and was marred with uncharacteristic sloppy play and numerous turnovers.
After the match Huub Stevens ripped into the performance noting:
“The first line of the PSV club song says: ‘We are ready to go into battle’, but I wonder if the players know this line by heart.”
"They deservedly took the lead and once you are a goal down in Breda, you know it’s going to be tough. We improved after the break, but did not always take the right decisions on the field."
While reluctant to cast blame on the international break in which many players were off playing for their homeland he commented:
"We only trained one time with a full-strength squad in fourteen days. That should not be an excuse, but it is a fact all the same."
PSV's lineup was unchanged from the De Graafschap victory but Dirk Marcellis, Edison Mendez, Jason Culina were all notably excluded and Danny Koevermans did not enter the match until twenty minutes after the break.
The match started in a telling fashion of the things to come in the evening as PSV consistently gave the ball away. Fundamental issues of weighting on passes, one-touch and control were a problem as they gave up possession under the pressure of NEC defenders.
At the fourteen minute mark disaster struck for PSV when Rob Penders flicked-on a free kick towards the PSV goal, bounced off Timmy Simons and past Andreas Isaksson to give NAC the 1-0 lead. Through the break the match offered few scoring opportunities with PSV's passing ability fluttering to a halt. On the hunt for the leveler Danny Koevermans was summoned for Hungarian international Balázs Dzsudzsák and while PSV increased pressure they were unable to find the needed goal. With three minutes remaining Tyrone Loran and Edwin de Graaf played the PSV defense before Matthew Amoah sent the ball to the back of the net to give NEC the 2-0 advantage. Deep into added-time Ibrahim Afelley scored a consolation goal to take the match to its final score of 2-1.
PSV returns to action this Wednesday as they face Olympique Marseille in Champions League action.
PSV
Andreas Isaksson
Carlos Salcido,Erik Pieters (56' Otman Bakkal),Marcellis,Kromkamp (23' Francisco Rodríguez)
Timmy Simons,Ibrahim Afelley,Stijn Wuytens
Danko Lazović,Balázs Dzsudzsák (65' Danny Koevermans),Nordin Amrabat
NEC Breda
Jelle ten Rouwelaar
Zwaanswijk,Csaba Fehér,Patrick Mtiliga,Rob Penders
Martijn Reuser (69' Kurt Elshot),Kees Kwakman,Tommie van der Leegte (82' Tyrone Loran)
Anthony Lurling,Matthew Amoah,Ellery Cairo (71' Edwin de Graaf )
