It was a great come from behind win for PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield, beating the not-so-aptly named “Go Ahead Eagles” 2-1 after trailing 0-1 at halftime. Sergino Dest started and scored the winning goal for PSV, while Ricardo Pepi came on in the 62nd minute along with a trio of substitutes that turned the game around for Eredivisie champions.
While PSV dominated possession, it was the Eagles who would score first. With Dest slightly out of position, the Eagles were able to cross the ball into PSV’s box, where the Eagles’ Mathis Suray’s one-time shot indeed put them ahead.
The scoreline stayed the same into halftime, despite a vast possession and shooting disparity in favor of PSV. In fact, th Farmers econtinued to trail through the 62nd minute, when Ricardo Pepi joined Guus Til and Ruben van Bommel as PSV aimed for a comeback.
The tying goal did come in the 78th minute, but it was through a defensive mistake by the Eagles’ Nauber, who tried to deflect a ball out for a corner, only to find his own goal’s upper right corner instead.
Having tied it up with the gift, PSV continued to press for the winner. Dest would do just that, in a combination play with Til. Dest’s strong shot in the 84th minute into the Eagles’ right corner proved to be the game winner.
With the win, PSV lift the Johan Cruyff Shield for a record 15th time, more than any other club. They also ended a mini-losing streak versus the Eagles, who had beat them in their previous two encounters.
Both Dest and Pepi are expected to be starters for PSV this season after returning from respective long-term injuries. And one would hope, both will be starters for the USMNT next Summer. They were both sorely missed at the Gold Cup earlier this Summer.
