Telstar Shocks PSV Again in Eredivisie Clash
In a surprising turn of events, Eredivisie champions-in-waiting PSV faced a significant setback as they were defeated by promoted side Telstar for the second time this season, with a disappointing 3-1 loss in a match that left the Eindhoven team reeling. The victory was fueled by a trio of former players from Quick Boys, showcasing their determination and skill against the reigning champions.
Following an earlier draw between Feyenoord and Ajax, PSV’s hopes of clinching the Eredivisie title in the 28th round were dashed, with their lead potentially extending to 18 points had they secured a win against Telstar. The stakes were high, especially considering Telstar’s earlier triumph over PSV in Eindhoven earlier this season.
In a lineup that saw Peter Bosz opt for Ricardo Pepi as the starting striker, the day was particularly challenging for Pepi, whose anticipated transfer to Fulham fell through just a day before. The match began with promising chances, including a near-opening goal from Pepi, whose attempt was heroically cleared off the line by Telstar’s Danny Bakker, maintaining the scoreless status.
Things took a turn for the worse for the champions when Anass Salah-Eddine, a loan player from AS Roma, received a straight red card for an elbow to Gerald Alders, leaving PSV to navigate the final 50 minutes with a man down.
Just before halftime, Telstar capitalized on their numerical advantage when Sem van Duijn connected with a free-kick, skillfully directing it past PSV’s goalkeeper, Matej Kovar, and gifting Telstar a crucial lead.
PSV came out strong in the second half, equalizing within just 80 seconds through Kilian Sildillia, who headed in a corner from Ivan Perisic, marking Perisic’s ninth assist of the season. However, despite their resurgence, the visitors struggled to convert chances into goals, with players like Ryan Flamingo and Couhaib Driouech unable to capitalize.
Telstar demonstrated resilience and struck again in the 66th minute when van Duijn scored from distance, reinstating their lead dramatically. The home crowd of BUKO Stadion erupted when Kay Tejan, freshly subbed in, quickly doubled the advantage after navigating a long throw from van Duijn into the net.
This victory etched Tejan’s name alongside Brouwer and van Duijn as yet another former Quick Boys player overcoming PSV, an impressive feat considering these players previously played in the amateur leagues. The match continued to unfold with Telstar almost netting a fourth goal, but a powerful shot from Devin Koswal was expertly saved by Kovar.
In a final push, PSV nearly found a late consolation goal with a backheel effort from Saibari, only for it to be controversially ruled out for offside. Thus, Telstar achieved a remarkable double over PSV, marking their second victory against the reigning champions in their first Eredivisie season since 1978. This outcome also signifies that it was PSV’s first time losing twice in one season to a promoted team since 1958.
PSV’s next chance to claim the league title arrives on Saturday, April 4th, when they host FC Utrecht at their home ground in Eindhoven.
