PSV Eindhoven are up to third in the table after a nervy 2-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen in the Philips Stadion.
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After losing to Heracles last week it was important for Phillip Cocu’s side to get back to winning ways if they were to keep up with league leaders Ajax, who kept up their impressive start with a win over Groningen earlier on Saturday.
However PSV began the game nervously and NEC took control with Rens van Eijden striking the post, while errors from Jeroen Zoet and Simon Poulson went unpunished by Anthony Limbombe and Marcel Ritzmaier, who was lucky to escape a red card for a stamp on Luuk de Jong.
Despite being second best PSV led on 38 minutes through De Jong, who finished on the rebound after Luciano Narsingh’s shot was parried into his path by Hannes Halldórsson.
Just after the hour mark NEC were level from the penalty spot after Santiago Arias was punished for a foul on Limbombe, and Christian Santos beat Zoet with his spot kick. PSV recovered from the set back though, and after 76 minutes Jurgen Locadia sealed victory for the home side by heading in Maxime Lestienne’s corner.
PSV raise temporarily above PEC Zwolle and into third, while NEC remain ninth.