PSV Eindhoven’s title chances took a blow as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Vitesse in a thrilling game in Arnhem.
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With Ajax winning on Saturday the pressure was on PSV to get a victory and reclaim top spot.
Mark van Bommel’s side dominated the opening stages but the first big chance fell to Vitesse in the tenth minute. The ball fell to Bryan Linssen on the edge of the box but his strike was wild and flew over.
Two minutes after that miss the opening goal did come for the hosts with Thulani Serero cutting in from the right wing before firing low into the bottom corner.
Hirving Lozano almost found the equaliser in the 20th minute but his cross came back off the bar.
PSV then struggled to create chances but in the 39th minute, Lozano raced through on goal before going down under the challenge of Remko Pasveer. The Mexican slotted in the spot kick to make it 1-1.
Moments later a penalty was awarded to Vitesse for a high-foot by Gaston Pereiro. However, after reviewing the images it was overturned by referee Serdar Gözübüyük.
Van Bommel decided to switch Pereiro for Mohammed Ihattaren at the break and the substitute had PSV’s first big chance of the second half. However, his free-kick from the edge of the box was poor and straight at the wall. At the other end, Jeroen Zoet had to make a reflex save to deny Denzel Dumfries netting an own-goal.
On the hour mark, PSV allowed Martin Ødegaard time to stride forward and the Norwegian smashed an excellent strike past Zoet to put Vitesse 2-1 ahead.
PSV equalised ten minutes later when Dumfries burst into the box and crossed for Luuk de Jong to tap in from close range.
With ten minutes to go, Lozano got a great chance when he was played through on goal but Pasveer came racing out of his goal to smother the ball. Vitesse went down the other end and won a corner which resulted in substitute Tim Matavz nodding them back in front.
Pasveer then kept Vitesse in front with two important blocks to deny Lozano and then Dumfries. With two minutes to go, PSV were awarded another penalty when Lozano was brought down by Maikel van der Werff, who was shown a straight red card. Lozano once again beat Pasveer from the spot to make it 3-3.
With four minutes added on, PSV poured forward looking a winner but Pasveer kept them out and Vitesse held on for a point.
PSV are now level on points with Ajax but are second on goal difference. Vitesse are 7th.
PSV only have themselves to blame. While they did have opportunities for a 4th goal, they put themselves in the position to need it. They started well for the first 10 minutes, but they have lost their quality finishing. They should have scored early. The last kick of the game was also an easy save for Pasveer and it should have been blasted into the top of the net. While the penalties were legit, to have 2 of 3 goals come from the spot highlights the lack of offensive quality for the rest of the match. PSV were simply not the better side today.
Sadly mathematics is now deciding the title. I won’t criticize goal differential being the first tiebreaker much, because Ajax has 23 wins and PSV 22. THAT should be the tiebreaker in my opinion.
Five matches left. Anything can happen. However, PSV need to play with more forward ambition and score as many goals as they possibly can. Turning over a 9-goal deficit in 5 matches seems unlikely at best.