Steven Bergwijn and Mohamed Ihattaren netted a goal either side of the break at Arve Asito on Sunday evening to earn PSV their first league victory on the road of the new season.
Mark van Bommel was forced to make one change, with Mohamed Ihattaren replacing the injured Bruma. The 17-year old played on the right wing while Steven Bergwijn operated as an attacking midfield playmaker. PSV fielded their youngest starting line-up in an Eredivisie game (22 years and 354 days) since December 2014.
PSV pressed high on the pitch and created two half-chances early on. Cody Gakpo had a shot blocked and Steven Bergwijn whipped a shot wide of the post on 13 minutes. Bergwijn, who signed a new contract with PSV this week, tried his luck from long range five minutes later and opened the scoring for PSV. He unleashed a powerful low shot that whizzed past Heracles keeper Janis Blaswich: 0-1.
His PSV colleague Jeroen Zoet made a fine save in the 25th minute, pushing away Teun Bijleveld’s effort. Heracles winger Silvester van der Water had a good opportunity to level things but his chip went wide. PSV thought they had won a penalty when referee Jochem Kamphuis pointed to the spot for a handball, but the VAR overruled his decision.
Ihattaren doubles lead
Mohamed Ihattaren doubled PSV’s lead thirteen minutes into the second half, netting his first Eredivisie goal. Gutierrez played in Gakpo who cut the ball back for Ihattaren who beat the keeper at the far post: 0-2. Van Bommel made his first change on 65 minutes, with Mohamed Ihattaren making way for Jorrit Hendrix, who made his 200th appearance for PSV.
French defender Oliver Boscagli replaced Michal Sadilek at left back in the 71st minute. Mark van Bommel’s men had chances in the closing stages but were not clinical on the counter. 2-0 was of course a winning margin and PSV were happy to hold on for the victory in the five minutes of added time.
PSV will be back in Europa League action on Thursday when they host Apollon Limasol in the first leg of the playoffs (Source: PSV.nl)
