Feyenoord 2-3 PSV: Records rife as PSV keep title dream alive | OneFootball

Feyenoord surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 2-3 late on against PSV at De Kuip. With this and Ajax’s shock defeat to NEC Nijmegen, Peter Bosz’s fightback side kept their title dreams on track. With this, a number of records were broken.

Early strikes from Igor Paixão and Givairo Read inside the first 10 minutes were cancelled out by Ivan Perisic and Noa Lang in the second half.

Following Read’s dismissal for a lack of concentration with a last-man challenge, former Feyenoord academy man Lang emerged as the pantomime villain. He scored deep into added time and celebrated in the faces of the home supporters.

PSV’s comeback victory signalled the first time since 29 November 1992 that Feyenoord had lost at home in the Eredivisie after being ahead at half-time. At that time, it was MVV Maastricht who triumphed in Rotterdam-Zuid after being 3-2 down at half-time, winning 3-4.

The last time Feyenoord lost an Eredivisie match in which they were leading 2-0 was on 22 October 1995 against Ajax, when the score was 2-4. In the 336 subsequent times that the Rotterdammers led 2-0 at home in league play, the result was at least a draw.

The fact that Feyenoord lost to PSV (and Ajax) both times in the league this season arrives as another rough aspect for the day’s hosts. That has only happened once before in the 2017-18 season, when the team, as defending champion, took zero points from the top teams.

Hancko analyses difficult loss

Speaking after the game, Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko addressed his side’s fast start, before eventually fading away against a determined PSV.

“I think everything we trained came to fruition. High pressure, long balls in the build-up. We did that because PSV wants to defend man-to-man. There were chances to score there.

“But this is the most painful day in my three years at Feyenoord. We got tired and we’re not experienced enough yet, I think. I’m proud of how hard we worked, how we tried to block shots. We did everything to stop PSV, but they’re a great team.”

Feyenoord were slowly exhausted and overrun by PSV, the defender noted. “Their quality went up, we got tired. The crosses kept coming, the transition moments followed each other quickly. They went from side to side, the build-up was tight as a sheet. We could no longer remain so compact, they kept finding the free man.

“Joey Veerman was allowed to set the pace. We talked about that all week. If you give him space, he is one of the best players in the competition. PSV showed its qualities, while we were no longer so good.”

There’s just one point between PSV and Ajax. PSV end their season with a game at home against Heracles Almelo, before they face Sparta Rotterdam away. Ajax will nervously try and stay on track at the top with their final two fixtures of the season being away at Groningen and at home to Twente.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield