Eredivisie
PSV Eindhoven 5-1 Groningen: Perisic brace and late Pepi penalty seal comeback win
PSV Eindhoven overcame an early Groningen lead to secure a commanding 5-1 victory at Philips Stadion in Eredivisie round three.
PSV Eindhoven bounced back from a slow start to crush Groningen 5-1 at Philips Stadion in their Eredivisie Round 3 clash. The hosts entered the match having fallen behind early, but a flurry of goals in the opening half turned the tide decisively in their favour.
The game began disastrously for PSV as Groningen struck first in the 9th minute. B. Willumsson, playing for the visitors, finished calmly past the home keeper after a well-weighted through ball from T. van Bergen. However, just two minutes later, Groningen’s hopes of maintaining the lead were dashed when defender T. Blokzijl turned the ball into his own net, handing PSV an unlikely equaliser.
PSV’s resurgence continued in the 35th minute. I. Perisic, the Croatian winger, curled a fine shot into the far corner to put the hosts ahead for the first time. The goal lifted the home crowd and shifted momentum firmly towards Peter Bosz’s side.
As the first half entered stoppage time, Groningen had a golden opportunity to restore parity from the penalty spot. Instead, R. Pepi stepped up and coolly converted for PSV, sending the referee Allard Lindhout's whistle-blown half to a close with the hosts leading 3-1.
The second half saw PSV extend their dominance. In the 53rd minute, Perisic doubled his tally, slotting home a low cross from Mauro Junior. His finish was clinical and added further pressure on Groningen’s defensive line.
Three minutes later, PSV capitalised on a swift counter-attack. R. van Bommel, who had earlier received a yellow card, threaded a precise pass through the middle for S. Dest, who ran clear to slot home the fifth goal. The assist marked a moment of individual quality from the midfielder.
Despite late efforts from Groningen, the scoreline remained unchanged. Both sides collected bookings during the match—van Bommel for PSV at the 21st minute mark and M. Csinger for Groningen in the dying moments of the first half.
The result leaves PSV Eindhoven in fifth place in the Eredivisie table with four points from two matches, while Groningen sit second with six points. For PSV, the emphatic win will provide momentum heading into their next fixture.
Groningen’s Dick Lukkien will need to address defensive lapses quickly, particularly the own goal and vulnerability to set pieces. Meanwhile, Peter Bosz will be encouraged by his team's attacking output and ability to recover from behind.
With both teams set to return to action soon, PSV’s clinical finishing and resilience will be tested again, while Groningen must regroup and tighten up defensively to maintain their strong start to the season.