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View the summary of PSV – Heracles Almelo
Leader PSV escaped unscathed against low-flying Heracles Almelo. In Eindhoven, the visitors came back from behind twice, but the lax-looking PSV still won: 4-3.
With the victory, PSV increases its lead over Feyenoord to nine points. The Rotterdam team will play De Klassieker against Ajax in the Johan Cruijff Arena on Sunday.
For new Heracles coach Ernest Faber it was a return to familiar territory. The former defender played 241 games for the Eindhoven team and was also associated with PSV after his active career and several positions.
From Hendrie Krüzen – who also has a PSV past as a player and who also formed a tandem with PSV coach and close friend Peter Bosz for years – he inherited a team that had not lost five games in a row. Once back in his role as assistant, he even added a fifth against Telstar (1-1) last week.
But before they could measure themselves on the field, an impressive tribute was paid to the PSV supporters who died in the past year.
Goosebump moment in Eindhoven: Frits Philips and deceased PSV fans remembered
Heracles did not want to limit himself to defending, Faber said beforehand. But the Almelo team was forced to do so from the first minute.
The opening goal came from a penalty, not the only one in the first half.
Penalty one
After more than fifteen minutes, Guus Til seemed to be on his way to the opening goal, but was pushed in the back by Damon Mirani at the last moment. While Ricardo Pepi shot the rebound into the goal, referee Alex Bos already pointed to the spot.
Mirani was spared a yellow card and Pepi still got the chance to score his sixth of the season from eleven meters. The American international did not miss that opportunity: 1-0.
Penalty two
Not much later the ball hit the spot again. This time Bos punished an unfortunate handball from Ivan Mesik, who jumped along with Armando Obispo at a corner and got the ball on his outstretched arm.
This time Ismaïl Saibari stood behind the ball and left goalkeeper Timo Jansink with no chance: 2-0.
A kind of farewell present from Saibari who, like Anass Salah-Eddine, will travel to Morocco on Monday to play for the host country in the Africa Cup.
Penalty three
Then it was Heracles’ turn to build from eleven meters. This time Mauro Junior was the unfortunate one who unintentionally received a cross after a light push from an opponent.
Jizz Hornkamp took his run-up with a striking hop and sent goalkeeper Matej Kovar into the wrong corner: 2-1.
After the break, the urgency seemed to have disappeared from PSV’s game, although Dennis Man still hit the crossbar and Pepi almost headed into the short corner.
However, Heracles sensed an opportunity and struck after Mario Engels and Luka Kulenovic entered the team. Barely thirty seconds after coming on, Engels advanced to the back line and his cross was shot in by Kulenovic: 2-2.
Watch the 2-2, 3-3 and decisive 4-3 below.
After that equalizer, Heracles had several big chances to even take the lead, but goalkeeper Kovar showed that he is an excellent goalkeeper.
While the faces of the PSV players, bench and stands were grumpy, Joey Veerman made it 3-2 out of nowhere. The Volendammer took a swing from the edge of the sixteen and saw how goalkeeper Jansink missed.
To rescue PSV
But the match had not yet been played. Couhaib Driouech and Veerman did not understand each other, Walid Ould-Chikh took over and offered Hornkamp the opportunity to decisively shoot the 3-3 against the ropes.
A first victory for PSV in Almelo since 1964 did not come. And Heracles was not awarded a point either. Ten minutes before the end, Guus Til provided relief.
Club top scorer Til made the difference for PSV again with a 4-3 win against Heracles
Sergiño Dest played a leading role in this, by dribbling into the penalty area after a nice attack. Til cleverly broke free and shot the 4-3 hard.
Deep into injury time, Heracles was still hoping for a penalty, but referee Bos did not point to the spot for the fourth time. PSV goalkeeper Kovar came into contact with Mimeirhel Benita and hit the player, but also the ball.
