NOS Voetbal•zondag, 20:13
Feyenoord wins Johan Cruijff Shield, spectacle only decided after penalties
Feyenoord has won the battle for the Johan Cruijff Shield for the fifth time in the club’s history. In the Philips Stadium, the team of new coach Brian Priske won in a wonderful, goal-rich duel (4-4) after penalties against PSV.
Johan Bakayoko and Guus Til missed for PSV in the penalty shootout, after which Luka Ivanusec converted the decisive penalty for Feyenoord.
Goal celebration
This edition of the battle for the Johan Cruijff Shield, the traditional duel between national champion (PSV) and cup winner (Feyenoord), was rightly called a spectacle.
It was also the duel of Santiago Gimenez, who converted two penalties for Feyenoord. It was the duel of PSV’s Luuk de Jong, who also scored twice. The duel of Guus Til who was effective right after coming on as a substitute and also won a penalty. The duel of 20-year-old Gjivai Zechiël, the talent of the Rotterdammers who remained standing excellently.
And it was the first official duel of trainer Priske, who succeeded Arne Slot at Feyenoord, who left for Liverpool. The Danish coach is blowing a different wind in Rotterdam, by playing with a 3-4-3 formation.
Priske said beforehand that he wants to play attacking, dominant football. Couple that with the philosophy of PSV colleague Peter Bosz, who advocates ‘winning is achieved by scoring one more time than the opponent’, and an explanation for the flood of goals is quickly found.
PSV took an early lead thanks to a splitting pass through the middle from right winger Johan Bakayoko, which reached Noa Lang. The left winger, who has returned after a long injury, fired the ball hard into the net with the inside of his foot (1-0).
Pro ShotsNoa Lang returned after long injury
Feyenoord had to catch up again. In the run-up to the match for the Johan Cruijff Shield, Feyenoord had already lost by clear numbers to Benfica (5-0) and AS Monaco (3-1), two opponents of Champions League level.
PSV, on the other hand, won against Valencia, thanks to two good goals from Ismael Saibari, who had also been on target in the draw against Club Brugge.
But PSV was struggling with serious defensive problems. Olivier Boscagli and Mauro Jr. had been injured last week, and Armando Obispo and Sergiño Dest had been injured for some time. This meant that Bosz had a big puzzle to solve on the left side of the defence. He opted for a centre with Jerdy Schouten and Ryan Flamingo, who had come over from FC Utrecht. The left back was the inexperienced Norwegian Fredrik Oppegard.
Priske had a fit selection at his disposal, apart from Gernot Trauner. Although he was rather secretive about who would guard the goal. “We will definitely appear with someone with gloves on the lines”, he said. He eventually chose Timon Wellenreuther as first keeper, and not Justin Bijlow, who was the first choice under Slot at the end of last season, despite injuries, and was part of the Dutch team’s European Championship selection.
ANPJustin Bijlow was on the bench at Feyenoord
Also in the midfield of Feyenoord a striking name appeared, that of the 20-year-old Zechiël, born and raised in Rotterdam. At the beginning of last season the product of the own youth academy already made his debut, but then he quickly disappeared from the picture at the first team, also due to a knee injury.
Zechiël was comfortable on the ball and also important in the 1-1. He had a few nice passing moves in the house, after which he was brought down in the sixteen. Penalty for Feyenoord. Santiago Gimenez shot impeccably.
Less than four minutes later, the Mexican striker was at the heart of the 2-1. He escaped from two PSV defenders and gave a low pass at the far post. It was a piece of cake for the surging Bart Nieuwkoop to walk the ball in.
Just before half-time, Igor Paixão had a great chance to also tap in the 3-1. But the Brazilian attacker’s attempt just before the goal line was far too weak. Although it must be said: goalkeeper Walter Benitez also made a great save.
Pro ShotsSantiago Gimenez scored twice and provided one assist
Paixão must have grimaced as he remembered his mistake when Luuk de Jong tapped in the equaliser straight away in the second half on a pass from Malik Tillman: 2-2.
As a result, the match between PSV and Feyenoord was somewhat reminiscent of a game of ping-pong, with the (goal) points falling back and forth so easily.
Gimenez scored again from a penalty (2-3). Substitute Guus Til then brought PSV level again (3-3). Substitute Milambo then put Feyenoord back in the lead (3-4). After which Luuk de Jong levelled the score again with a well-aimed penalty: 4-4.
Pro ShotsAntoni Milambo
And then the rain of goals finally stopped. No more goals were scored in the seven minutes of injury time. There was no extra time on the program, so Feyenoord and PSV could immediately start the penalty shootout.
PSV missed twice, Feyenoord failed not once from the penalty spot and started the season with a prize.