A brace from Luuk de Jong and a spot-kick from Xavi Simons saw PSV cruise to a 3-0 victory against Ajax. Both sides went into the game level on 62 points, needing a victory to secure second place in the Eredivisie. PSV were victorious, meaning they overtake the current champions to move up into the desired Champions League qualification spot.Â
It took Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side just thirteen minutes to open the scoring. A brilliant cross from 20-year-old Johan Bakayoko found the head of Luuk de Jong who blasted the ball into the back of the net. The goal made 32-year-old De Jong the third-ever player to score a goal in five successive Eredivisie games against Ajax.Â
John Heitinga’s Ajax dominated possession throughout the game but were unable to break through PSV’s defence. Less than ten minutes into the second half, Ajax goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli knocked down the advancing Xavi Simons in the area to concede a penalty. Simons made no mistake from the spot, sending the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0.Â
Shortly after Simons doubled the scoring, the match was abandoned for fifteen minutes. A PSV fan had thrown a beer cup onto the pitch which resulted in referee Serdar Gözübüyük stopping the game. Both sets of players were sent away from the danger before play resumed shortly after.Â
PSV made it three in the 78th minute. Sublime skill from Xavi Simons allowed the 20-year-old to skip past his opponents before playing in Luuk de Jong for his sixth goal in as many league games. It was a perfect performance from PSV who punished Ajax in front of a packed-out Philips Stadion. Both sides are set to meet again in the KNVB Cup final next Sunday. PSV will surely be seen as the favourites after this 3-0 thumping. For the first time since 2005/2006, Ajax have failed to beat both Feyenoord and PSV in the Eredivisie.Â
