PSV climbs to Europa League spot

PSV added their fourth successive victory, upending Heracles Almelo 2-0. With the result the defending champions climb to fourth in the table, three points above Heerenveen in the final Europa League spot.

The victory was far from an easy walk in the park for the Dwight Lodeweges-led PSV as the host side, fighting to avoid relegation initiated the early assaults. An early miscue by Andreas Isaksson off a corner gifted Bas Dost a point blank chance but his attempt drifted off-course. Midway of the half PSV found its opening goal coming off a lightning fast counter. As Jason Culina provided Balázs Dzsudzsák a searching long ball down the left flank the Hungarian international pulled Heracles defender Birger Maertens over only to send the ball to Ola Toivonen on the right. Coming in free on great veteran 'keeper Martin Pieckenhagen, his attempt was denied but the rebound came straight back to the young striker who then passed the ball back to Balázs Dzsudzsák in front of the open goal for a 1-0 lead. After coming close to squaring up the match PSV took advantage of a poor clearance by Heracles to launch a quick counter-strike resulting in Danny Koevermans turning in a rebound of Balázs Dzsudzsák drive to bring the match to a 2-0 conclusion.

PSV returns to action next Sunday against N.E.C. in their final home match of the year.