PSV Eindhoven have opened the gap on Ajax to seven points at the top after a comfortable 3-1 victory over Feyenoord in De Kuip.
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The leaders were buoyed by the news that Ajax could only draw 0-0 with ADO Den Haag earlier on Sunday and they welcomed back Marco van Ginkel into the starting line-up, while Gaston Pereiro replaced the suspended Hirving Lozano. For Feyenoord, Robin van Persie dropped to the bench as Sofyan Amrabat and Jens Toornstra started.
PSV dominated possession from the start and they deservedly took the lead on 23 minutes when Santiago Arias was left free to head in Steven Bergwijn’s cross. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 as Pereiro set Bergwijn through on goal and the winger dinked the ball past Brad Jones and into the net.
It could have been worse for Feyenoord heading into the break but Bergwijn had an effort deflected just wide while Arias blasted a shot over the bar from a tight angle.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst took of Steven Berghuis at the break and brought on Jean-Paul Boetius. The substitute made an impact seven minutes into the second half with a cross that Tonny Vilhena headed past a rooted Jeroen Zoet to make it 2-1.
Any chance of a comeback took a blow five minutes later as Pereiro made it 3-1 from close range after Jones could only parry Bergwijn’s shot.
Feyenoord looked for a way back into the game but Zoet commanded his area and kept out efforts from Boetius and Toornstra. Moments before the end, PSV handed an Eredivisie debut to 18-year-old winger Cody Gakpo.
The win moves PSV back to seven points ahead of Ajax in second while Feyenoord remain fourth.
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