“I just can’t believe it”

By: j | October 26th, 2008

PSV manager Huub Stevens summed up the PSV - Roda match simply in his post-match press conference stating:

“I can’t possibly lavish praise on PSV. I am concerned about my team’s inconsistent play. We made only one change from the team that did so well only three days ago. Roda produced an excellent performance, but we should never have conceded defeat. We were not clever enough tonight. Roda were patient and, unlike Olympique, would gladly have settled for a draw beforehand.”

PSV was defeated 3-2 by Roda JC at a disappointed Philips Stadion. That match marked the second successive year Roda has upset PSV and it was additionally Roda’s first victory of the season. The loss sends PSV tumbling to fourth in the table, four points FC Groningen but with NAC Breda still to play, that margin could increase to six.

The visitors got off quickly with Boldiszar Bodor scoring twenty minutes after the opening whistle. PSV looked sloppy and uninspired with control of passing inexplicably poor. Well before the half, supporters expressed their disapproval and as they went to the break down 1-0, whistles cascaded throughout Philips.

Boldiszar Bodor was once again an inspiring force for Roda as twenty minutes from the restart his cross was headed in by Andres Oper. Balázs Dzsudzsák took it upon himself with a perfectly struck free-kick on the hour mark to draw PSV within one and with his urging, the fans began to push their hero’s on. Yet only five minutes later Boldiszar Bodor was the beneficiary of dreadful if not amateurish defending as he was let in alone on PSV ‘keeper Andreas Isaksson via a long ball and calmly deposited the ball to the back of the net. Serbian international Danko Lazović, along with Balázs Dzsudzsák were one of PSV’s lone bright spots in a miserable evening, made a beautiful play to maneuver past Roda ‘keeper Bram Castro and brought PSV to within one with eleven minutes remaining. While PSV poured forward looking for the leveled, Roda’s back-line led by Canadian international Marcel de Jong held strong, taking the great victory to the backdrop of a disgruntled Philips Stadion.