On a weekend when rivals Ajax and Feyenoord were not in action, PSV, who have been so changeable this season, once again showed their good side. Coach Ruud van Nistelrooij’s side recorded an easy 3-0 win against NEC.

Anwar El Ghazi and the fit Luuk de Jong and Noni Madueke scored the goals for PSV in a game in which the vacillating referee Martin van den Kerkhof and VAR played a pivotal role.

Ultimately, the arbitration court’s actions didn’t bother PSV, or hardly at all, just like on Thursday against Arsenal (2-0) when three Eindhoven goals were disallowed.

Three tough duels ahead

PSV have now played one more game, a point behind leaders Ajax. The team can concentrate on the last three tough games before the World Cup: Bodø/Glimt (away), Ajax (away) and AZ (home).

NEC have been waiting for a goal in an away game since September 1st. The Nijmegen side, who have struggled with draws this season, have also not won in the Eredivisie since August 14 and see the relegation zone edging frighteningly close.

PSV dominated in the first half and NEC were lucky to get a valid goal. In the 18th minute, Cody Gakpo provided his tenth assist of the Eredivisie season, his cross being fired in by El Ghazi behind NEC goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. De Jong was ruled offside for a shot by his team-mate but the VAR ruled it wasn’t a nuisance.

Right from the start, Gakpo missed a huge chance to make it 2-0 for PSV and the home side stayed stronger after that. About five minutes before half-time, the Philips Stadion celebrated again, but the VAR threw a spanner in the works after much deliberation. De Jong, back in the starting XI for the first time since injury, headed in from a cross from – how could it be otherwise? – Gakpo.

NEC cruel

Several NEC players protested heavily to referee Van den Kerkhof over minor offenses by Erick Gutiérrez and Gakpo in the lead up to the goal. Lasse Schöne and NEC coach Rogier Meijer received a yellow card.

But the NEC players unexpectedly prevailed: the goal was rejected by VAR. Not because of the alleged violations, but because of applicant Gakpo’s offside.

Immediately after the break there was again great uncertainty about a PSV goal. Xavi Simons was picked off in the box by Philippe Sandler, the injury-prone ex-Manchester City talent making his first Premier League start since 2018.

Van den Kerkhof didn’t hesitate for a moment and put the ball on the spot, but the VAR thought he could see that Sandler still grazed the ball. The referee was called to the screen but stuck to his decision: penalty for PSV. De Jong got past Cillessen – by no means a specialist in penalty shoot-outs – after a slow start: 2-0.

After that, both teams made plenty of changes, allowing Madueke, who had recovered from an injury, to play for half an hour. The match became much more chaotic with all the changes.

3,000th Eredivisie goal in-house

Fifteen minutes before the end, NEC threatened Walter Benítez’s goal for the first time, but a free header from Iván Márquez went wide. Moments later, Madueke was able to shoot from close range at the other end, but Cillessen saved.

Madueke scored his first goal since his injury in the 84th minute. After another assist from Gakpo, the Englishman pushed the ball into the far corner (3:0). Also a goal with statistical value: it was PSV’s 3000th home goal in Eredivisie history. Only Ajax has reached this milestone earlier.