The first-ever “Booth derby” didn’t disappoint, with the two brothers combining for four goals including a hat-trick from USMNT attacker Taylor, while Segiño Dest had another good day in the office to help PSV stay unbeaten in league play.
FC Utrecht 4 – 2 FC Volendam
Taylor and Zach Booth both started in the attack and scored for their respective teams, FC Utecht and FC Volendam, with the elder of the two, Taylor, netting a hat-trick to push his team to a big victory over his younger brother on Sunday.
In a clear man-of-the-match performance for Utrecht, Taylor Booth peppered the Volendam goal with six shots, half of which beat the keeper, set up an additional pair of chances, successfully completed both of his attempted dribbles, won seven out of 11 duels, drew one foul and committed two.
His brother, Zach, was amongst Volendam’s top attacking players, scoring one goal from his two shots and completing seven out of his eight passes amidst 17 touches.
The on-loan Leicester City youth player put Volendam ahead after just nine minutes, chesting down Bilal Ould-Chikh’s corner to the turf, then slamming it home from five yards for the 1-0 lead.
Not to be outdone, the elder Booth pulled Utrecht even in the 38th minute, taking a short lay-off from Sam Lammers, and striking an off-balance shot on the turn to the lower left corner.
On the stroke of half, Nick Viergever headed in a cross from Jens Toornstra to put Utrecht ahead, but Josh Flint pulled Volendam even in the 54th by poking home from short range in the midst of a tussle after the hosts were unable to clear a corner.
The Booth show resumed in the 57th minute, with the Utrecht striker netting his second of the game with a slick backheel flick from a Toornstra cross.
Four minutes after the younger of the two was subbed out with ten minutes left in regulation, the elder completed his hat-trick, receiving the ball close to 40 yards out and finishing his run up the left side with a low shot to the near post that flew under the helpless keeper’s grip.
With the result, Utrecht break their long winless run and sit 11th in the Eredivisie standings, ahead of Sunday’s home game against Fortuna Sittard. Volendam are well within the automatic relegation places, and host runaway league leaders PSV on Sunday.
Ajax 1 – 1 PSV Eindhoven
Sergiño Dest was the only member of PSV’s American trio in uniform on Saturday, as the team fought back to earn a draw at Ajax.
With Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman both struggling with minor injuries, Dest was the lone USMNT representative in the game, and had his usual solid outing. He misplaced only one of his 44 passing attempts, set up two chances, made nine recoveries, won one out of three attempted dribbles, blocked one shot, and won one out of six duels.
Steven Berghuis put Ajax ahead after 19 minutes, receiving the ball after an impressive sequence by Brian Brobbey to maintain possession under pressure in the PSV area, then aiming a low shot from the left side to the far corner.
Luuk de Jong netted his 18th goal of the season to pull PSV even in the 34th minute, striking a bouncing cross from Ismael Saibari with the inner edge of his left foot to beat Ajax keeper Diant Ramaj to the right side of goal.
The teams were relatively even-matched for the remainder, with ball possession fairly equal on both sides, and neither holding a major advantage on dangerous moments.
Dest was subbed out in the final moments in favor of center back Armando Obispo as PSV head coach Peter Bosz shut up shop and eventually accepted the point.
The result leaves PSV still undefeated through their first 20 league games, with a ten-point lead over second-place Feyenoord. They are back in action on Sunday against Zach Booth and Volendam.
Notes
Kik Pierie was in the starting lineup for Excelsior Rotterdam in Eredivisie action on Friday night, playing 64 minutes at center back in the team’s 2-1 loss at Almere City FC. The team ends the weekend in 14th place, six points out of the relegation places.
Philippe Sandler started and played the full game for NEC Nijmegen on Saturday, as they picked up a valuable three points at home in a 3-1 win over struggling Heracles. The win gives NEC some space as they try to keep their spot in the post-season playoffs to reach European competition.
Anthony Fontana was an unused substitute for PEC Zwolle on Sunday during their 2-0 road win over Sparta Rotterdam.
New Vitesse arrival Paxten Aaronson was not yet in uniform on Sunday for the team’s 2-0 loss at home to Go Ahead Eagles.
Augustin Anello, who recently joined Eerste Divisie team Cambuur on loan, played 55 minutes on the left wing in their 1-1 draw at Willem II on Friday night.
Gedion Zelalem was not in uniform for FC Den Bosch in their scoreless home draw against Helmond Sport on Friday.
John Hilton played 52 minutes at left back for FC Dordrecht on Friday night, while Korede Osundina played the final half-hour as an attacking sub for the team in their narrow 1-0 win over Groningen on Friday.
Justin Che started and played 74 minutes at right back fo ADO Den Haag on Friday, as they easily beat their hosts TOP Oss by a 3-1 score.
Richard Ledezma has re-joined the PSV organization following his loan in MLS, and could start making appearances for Jong PSV after recently playing for the reserves in a friendly. He was not yet in uniform on Friday for their 3-2 loss at VVV-Venlo.
Joshua Pynadath, who has not been in the Jong AZ uniform for quite some time, continued his absence on Monday in the team’s 1-0 home win over Roda JC Kerkrade.
Rickson van Hees started as usual for Jong FC Utrecht on Monday night when they hosted Jong Ajax, playing 89 minutes at right back while picking up a yellow card in the 1-0 home loss.