PSV edges AZ Alkmaar as late Ricardo Pepi goal seals 2–1 win

PSV Eindhoven secured a narrow 2-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar on Saturday evening. Despite the visitors from Alkmaar creating the better opportunities in Eindhoven, a late goal by Ricardo Pepi secured victory for PSV.

Billy van Duijl gave AZ Alkmaar the lead with his first goal in the Eredivisie. Just before the break, PSV Eindhoven equalized after an unlucky own goal from Troy Parrott. The decisive moment came in the 86th minute, when Ricardo Pepi scored to make it 2–1. PSV leads Feyenoord by 20 points, although the Rotterdam club still has a game in hand, while AZ remains sixth in the standings.

After Tuesday’s defeat in the KNVB Cup, PSV was briefly “sick to its stomach,” but soon shifted its attention back to the pursuit of the league title and the clash with AZ. Speaking on Friday, coach Peter Bosz told the media that his side required four more victories to claim a third straight Eredivisie championship and hoped to start that run against the team from Alkmaar.

Peter Bosz gave Ricardo Pepi his first start since recovering from a broken arm. With Mauro Júnior sidelined through injury, Kiliann Sildillia came into the team at right back, prompting Sergiño Dest to switch to the left flank. Early on, Paul Wanner tested AZ goalkeeper Rome‑Jayden Owusu‑Oduro with a shot following a pass from Dest.

For AZ, Van Duijl was the only change from the side that had beaten Telstar in the KNVB Cup. The stand-in for the suspended Kees Smit made an immediate impact, scoring the opener after roughly a quarter of an hour. After two PSV Eindhoven players slipped, Van Duijl fired a powerful shot into the net to make it 0–1.

After taking the lead, AZ kept control of the match and had opportunities to increase the margin through Troy Parrott and Peer Koopmeiners. PSV, which had offered little attacking threat, nonetheless equalized shortly before the break. A mistake by goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro on a header from Kiliann Sildillia caused the ball to deflect off Parrott and into the goal, making it 1–1.

Just before the hour mark, PSV lost Sergiño Dest to what looked like a hamstring problem, prompting the introduction of the recently fit-again Anass Salah-Eddine. Despite AZ Alkmaar creating the better opportunities after the break, through players, including Isak Jensen, Parrott, and Denso Kasius, they could not find the net. Ricardo Pepi ultimately decided the match, blasting home a cross from Ivan Perišić to secure a 2–1 victory.