PSV have been looking for a suitable replacement for the striker since Luuk de Jong’s muscle injury. Guus Til made it clear to FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon that he could fill this position well. PSV beat Utrecht 6-1 in the Eredivisie thanks in part to two goals from Til.

No fewer than five players (Ismael Saibari, Xavi Simons, Yorbe Vertessen, Anwar El Ghazi and Til) have tried coach Ruud van’s forward since De Jong’s injury in the Champions League game against Rangers (24 August). Nistelrooij. Til seems to be the most convincing now.

Instinctively

The instinctive way he made it 2-1 and 3-1 for PSV on Sunday afternoon was very similar to the way de Jong usually scores. And that while Til is seen as someone who mainly benefits from behind the forward position, as was often the case with Feyenoord last season.

Coach Van Nistelrooij appears to have found a solution to his ‘striker problem’ for the time being, at a time when regular player De Jong is in the final stages of his rehabilitation.

It was certainly an afternoon for PSV against FC Utrecht, who after ten rounds are still not the formidable opponents they were before.

Coach Henk Fraser also admitted to ESPN beforehand that he was a little disappointed in himself that he hasn’t managed to make a real team out of his team so far.

Fast leadership

PSV immediately pushed back Utrecht in the early stages and took the lead after eight minutes after a fluid attack that saw Joey Veerman turn away from his opponent and Xavi Simons then easily scored the opening goal.

Cody Gakpo forgot to make it 2-0 less than a minute later (a shot went wide), giving FC Utrecht hope.

That hope proved not to be in vain as PSV fell asleep after the 1-0 lead and kept pushing Utrecht.

The 1-1 draw at Domstedelingen was also exemplary for PSV’s short but weak phase when Armando Obispo saw the ball land through Philipp Max’s leg and landed at Sander van de Streek during a defensive action. The Utrecht midfielder simply scored.

PSV woke up and restored order before the break with two striker goals from Til. He simply typed in the 2:1 after Max’s preparatory work and at the 3:1 Til outwitted his direct defense at the right moment after a pass from Gakpo.

Watch the interviews with Ruud van Nistelrooij, Xavi Simons, Henk Fraser and Mark van der Maarel in the carousel below:

Utrecht coach Fraser, on the other hand, couldn’t take it anymore and replaced Modibo Sagnan, Jens Toornstra and Bas Dost during the break.

The visitors were then of good will, but when Simons made it 4-1 on the rebound, Utrecht’s resistance was over.

Substitute Anwar El Ghazi then came on eagerly and scored the 5-1 and 6-1 for the open and free PSV, who thus had a good general ahead of the tough Europa League clash with Arsenal in London.