PSV 2–2 Fortuna Sittard
PSV 2–2 Fortuna Sittard. Your team dropped two points at home on the opening weekend, and it stings. The reigning champions controlled large spells but were sucker-punched in the 92nd minute by a moment of brilliance from an old academy face.
Tactical shape and flow
Peter Bosz sent his side out in a 3-4-3, a shift that raised eyebrows before kickoff (7) (11). The system gave PSV width and numerical superiority in midfield, and for stretches it worked: Xavi Simons probed between the lines, the wing-backs pushed high, and Fortuna were pinned back. But the shape also left gaps in transition, and Fortuna grew into the game by targeting the spaces behind the wing-backs.
The 92nd-minute gut punch
The decisive blow came deep into stoppage time. Édouard Michut, a PSV academy product and close friend of Simons, curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it 2–2 (5) (9) (14). The Frenchman had not played a single minute in Fortuna's pre-season (14). His goal silenced the Philips Stadion and left Simons with mixed feelings: the Dutch international admitted afterwards it was painful to see a friend hurt his club (5).
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Noah Fernandez, the 18-year-old handed a start, was singled out by Bosz for his role in Fortuna's late equaliser. The teenager lost his man in the build-up, and Bosz did not hide his frustration (3) (4). A harsh lesson at this level.
Bosz under the spotlight
Bosz was visibly agitated after the match. During his press conference he let a long, uncomfortable silence hang in the room before answering questions (2). When pressed on the 3-4-3, he snapped: "Dit vind ik echt raar wat je nu zegt", "I find what you're saying really strange" (7) (13). He defended the system but conceded that the performance was poor overall. "Alle positiviteit verdwijnt dan", all positivity disappears after a result like that (4).
What this means
This follows the 4–0 humbling by AZ in the Johan Cruijff Schaal, meaning PSV have now gone two competitive matches without a win to start the season (6). Bosz acknowledged the urgency: "Het is nu een keer helemaal aan het begin. Dat is nieuw en dat moeten we zo snel mogelijk ombuigen", it is all at the very beginning, and the team must turn it around fast (1).
Excelsior away on Saturday, August 15, is now a match your team cannot afford to slip up in. The champions are already playing catch-up.
