Ricardo Pepi got his first start for PSV Eindhoven alongside his U.S. counterparts Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman, but he could not capitalize on the opportunity despite several chances as they defeated Heracles to keep them in a commanding position at the top of the Eredivisie standings.
PSV 2-0 Heracles
The league leaders scored goals in both halves to come away with the win over Heracles at Philipps Stadoin as they geared up for their return to Champions League play at midweek.
All three Americans got the start for the Farmers, with Ricardo Pepi getting his chance in the unfamiliar position of left wing. He would go on the distance, completing 92 percent of his passes, winning four duels, making a tackle, and putting two shots on target. Malik Tillman played an hour, completing 81 percent of his passes, winning two duels, making four key passes, and taking three shots. Sergino Dest also played an hour as he completed 92 percent of his passes, won eight duels, made two tackles, and had a shot on target along with two key passes.
The hosts were gifted a man advantage after 13 minutes of play when the referee showed a red card to Heracles’ Bryan Limbombe after a rough tackle on Luuk de Jong. That followed with Pepi having an excellent chance to open the scoring for the team in the 15th minute when Hirving Lozano sent a cross into the 18-yard box for the forward, but he sent the ball over the crossbar.
However, PSV would grab the lead after 18 minutes when de Jong rose up to get his head on Joey Veerman’s free-kick as from the left side as he directed it to the far post. Pepi had another chance to get on the scoresheet in first-half stoppage time when Olivier Boscagli sent the ball over the top into the area, but the American’s headed attempt went wide of the target.
The hosts would go on to double their lead in the 56th minute when Tillman played a little one-two passing game with Boscagli as the Frenchman passed the ball to the midfielder at the top of the area and the Bayern Munich loanee returned to him to finish it off.
Heracles was no match for the league leaders and Pepi certainly should have scored with some of the chances he had on goal, but it wasn’t meant to be as PSV continues their march to their first Eredivisie crown since the 2017-2018 season.
PSV remains atop the standing with 62 points.
Notes
Elsewhere in the Eredivisie, both Paxten Aaronson and Zach Booth started for their respective teams as Vitesse and Volendam shared the spoils following a 1-1 draw.
Utrecht maintained their good form with a 1-0 over Twente, but Taylor Booth was pulled after playing 22 minutes with an apparent injury.
Anthony Fontana watched from the bench as Zwolle fell in a 1-0 defeat to Almere City.
NEC scored a dramatic equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time to secure a point against Ajax in a 2-2 draw as Philippe Sandler went the distance for the team.
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