PSV Eindhoven recorded a convincing 4-2 victory at AZ Alkmaar to close the gap on Ajax and Feyenoord.

AZ handed a debut to loanee Tim Krul in goal, but the Newcastle United stopper had an opening quarter to forget as PSV’s first two shots resulted in goals.

Firstly on 13 minutes, Jetro Willems picked the ball up on the edge of the box before turning past two defenders and powerfully firing past Krul from close range. Two minutes later it was 2-0 and it was Willems again who netted from just outside the box after being allowed to run unchallenged from just inside AZ’s half.

AZ responded quickly with Fred Friday, in for the suspended Wout Weghorst, pulling a goal back from just inside the box after Andres Guardado gave away possession. The hosts then rallied looking for an equaliser and Alireza Jahanbkhsh came within inches of scoring just after the half-hour mark with his sliding effort ending in the side netting.

Just before the break, PSV calmed any nerves by netting a third as Guardado’s free-kick was headed down by Luuk de Jong for Gaston Pereiro to stab the ball into the net from close range.

After the break AZ failed to take mount a comeback and there chances of grabbing a point were ended on 72 minutes as Stijn Wuytens saw his second yellow for a challenge on Santiago Arias. Two minutes later it was 4-1 through De Jong who slid in Guardado’s excellent cross from close range to settle the points.

Friday pulled a consolation back before the end but PSV came away with the three points which moves them closer to Ajax and Feyenoord, who play on Sunday. AZ drop to sixth.




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