PSV did a disservice by losing the spectacular away game against FC Groningen 4-2.

A brief but very sloppy period before the break cost Ruud van Nistelrooij’s team their heads. PSV see their third league defeat of the season widen their gap to leaders Ajax to four points.

Defensively unreliable

According to Van Nistelrooij, PSV have learned from the embarrassing defeat against SC Cambuur on October 1st. The club then showed recovery against medium-strong teams like FC Zurich and FC Utrecht, but in Groningen PSV showed once again that they can be defensively unreliable.

It was Armando Obispo and Ibrahim Sangaré who, with careless actions, initiated two of Groningen’s three goals before half-time. It should make Van Nistelrooij think.

Still, it didn’t look like PSV would go into halftime 3-1 down. Eindhoven dominated the game and should have taken the lead through Guus Til.

Opportunity striker Til shone last Sunday against FC Utrecht (6-1) with two typical striker goals, but failed conspicuously this time.

On the first chance he shot hard from close range and on the second big chance Til met goalkeeper Jan de Boer, who could make his Eredivisie debut for Groningen with injuries to Michael Verrips and Peter Leeuwenburgh.

Four goals in seven minutes

Then a spectacular phase began with four goals within seven minutes. Ricardo Pepi broke the ban for Groningen in the 39th minute by scoring on the rebound after Obispo unnecessarily lost the ball.

Four minutes later, Radino Balker made it 2-0 with a header after a nice run from a corner.

Two minutes later, ex-PSV player Cyril Ngonge took advantage of a weak action by Sangaré, who wildly kicked the ball away, and shot hard into the near post with his left leg (3-0).

Sangaré gave PSV hope late in the first half with a header from a free-kick.

Hurry up

With substitute Noni Madueke and a little later Luuk de Jong, PSV started a run towards the Groninger Tor.

There were chances from André Ramalho (header over goal), Cody Gapko (groin), Xavi Simons (shot blocked), Joey Veerman (rescue goalkeeper De Boer) and De Jong (shot).

Groningen put their heart and soul into defending their lead, but couldn’t stop Til from Gakpo’s pass to the connecting goal in the 76th minute.

PSV then had opportunities through De Jong (ball taken off the line by Neraysho Kasanwirjo) and Simons.

A fabulous save from goalkeeper Walter Benítez on a Damil Dankerlui shot kept PSV going, but Joey Pelupessy finally blasted the Groningen win against the ropes after a good set-up by Dankerlui.