For the second weekend in a row, a red card led to PSV Eindhoven going down to a heavy defeat. AZ Alkmaar came away from the Philips Stadion with a big 4-0 victory.
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Mark van Bommel went into the game without five regular starters. Steven Bergwijn, Donyell Malen and Mohamed Ihattaren were injured, while Jorrit Hendrix and Nick Viergever were suspended after red cards in last weekend’s 3-0 loss at Utrecht.
Ryan Thomas, who has battled back from a horror injury, was handed his first start for PSV, but what should have been a joyous occasion turned sour after 22 minutes. The midfielder was late in a challenge on Fredrik Midtso and via VAR was shown a red card.
By that point, AZ were already the better side and had missed a great chance through Myron Boadu. However, with a man extra, they eventually found the opening goal in the 45th minute. Calvin Stengs played Boadu in on goal with a sensational pass and this time the forward slotted past Jeroen Zoet.
Seconds later it was 2-0 with Owen Wijndal getting in the box before his cross was tapped in from close range by Boadu.
Van Bommel reacted at half-time by bringing on Kostas Mitroglou and Jordan Teze for Bruma and Ritsu Doan. The changes didn’t stop AZ from dominating though and Boadu missed two chances to seal his hat trick in the opening minutes of the second half.
After 71 minutes, the third goal did come when Stengs played in Jonas Svensson and from a tight angle the right-back blasted the ball past Zoet.
Five minutes later, substitute Dani de Wit met a corner to flick the ball past Zoet and it was 4-0 for the visitors.
The victory means AZ Alkmaar rises above PSV Eindhoven and into second place. Both clubs could find themselves six points off Ajax if they defeat Feyenoord.
The loss also ends PSV’s unbeaten run at home in the Eredivisie, which stretched back 53 games.
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