Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman came off the bench to provide the heroics for PSV as the American duo teamed to grab the game-winning goal in the team’s victory over Twente.
PSV 1-0 Twente
PSV was a bit off their game attacking-wise against Twente and had to wait until late in stoppage time to secure all three points as they came away with the win at Philips Stadion.
Sergino Dest was the only one of the American corps to start for the Farmers as he went the distance, completing 89 percent of his passes, winning nine duels, and making five tackles. Both Tillman and Pepi would come off the bench to play 26 and 10 minutes respectively. A surprise inclusion to PSV’s 20-man roster for this game was Richie Ledezma as he returned to the bench.
The hosts had several chances to open the scoring in the first half with the best chance coming in the fourth minute when Dest teamed up with Hirving Lozano for a give-and-go pass on the left side. The Mexican international then sent the ball into the path of team captain Luuk de Jong whose shot came crashing off the framework.
It was more of the same in the second half as PSV could not find a way to finish off plays in the final third with near misses and saves from the Twente goalkeeper keeping the visitors in the game. That would prove dangerous for the hosts as their opponents would start to build confidence at the other end as they had several opportunities to score.
Twente thought they had taken a shock lead in the 47th minute when Myron Boadu headed in the ball from a corner kick, but it was later ruled out by the referee after it was determined that the forward committed a foul on PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
With time winding down and PSV supporters on the edge of their seats, the team gave one last push for a goal and it would come from their substitutes in the 96th minute. Pressure from de Jong would force Twente’s Max Bruns to turnover the ball and the Dutchman would send it towards Lozano in the center of the 18-yard box, but he couldn’t get to it in time. However, Tillman was right behind as he collected the loose ball, sent it towards a trailing Pepi and he made it count as it nestled into the back of the net.
A thrilling game that kept PSV’s unbeaten run in the Eredivisie intact as they now have 72 points.
Notes
Elsewhere in league action, Paxten Aaronson went the distance for Vitesse as they shared the points with Almere City following a 1-1 draw.
Volendam was thrashed 4-0 at home by AZ Alkmaar as both Zachary Booth and Deron Payne were in the starting lineup for the Other Orange.
Philippe Sandler played the full 90 for NEC as they were on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat to Utrecht.
Anthony Fontana did not come off the bench as Zwolle suffered a 3-1 defeat to Fortuna Sittard.
Down in the Eerste Divisie, John Hilton played a half while Korede Osundina came on to play 30 minutes as Dordrecht settled for a 0-0 draw with Eindhoven.
Agustin Anello started and only played the first half for struggling Cambuur as they went down in a 2-0 defeat to Jong AZ.
Promotion chasers ADO Den Haag and Justin Che had no answers as they suffered a 3-1 loss to Telstar.
Gedion Zelalem played the final 29 minutes for Den Bosch in their 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Willem II.
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