Reigning Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven delivered a spectacular performance in Alkmaar, dismantling AZ 5-1 thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from midfielder-turned-striker Guus Til.
Coming off a dramatic 1-1 draw against Olympiacos in midweek, PSV manager Peter Bosz opted to leave American striker Ricardo Pepi on the bench, citing that he is “not yet fit enough to play at this level” following a long injury layoff. That decision did little to slow the champions early on.
PSV stormed into the lead within five minutes when Mauro Jr. capitalized on a misdirected pass from AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro, calmly slotting the ball past him in a one-on-one situation.
Just six minutes later, Guus Til, deputizing as PSV’s striker, doubled the advantage with a composed finish after a fine setup from Mauro Jr. Til struck again in the 28th minute, completing a brilliant solo run and leaving Owusu-Oduro helpless.
AZ pulled one back before halftime as captain Sven Mijnans converted after Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar misjudged a shot, letting the ball slip under him.
However, PSV’s firepower proved unstoppable. Joey Veerman, who had only scored once last season and was overlooked for the Netherlands squad, unleashed a stunning effort from outside the box to make it 4-1 following an interception by Ismael Saibari.
Til capped off his stellar performance with a perfectly placed header to complete his hat-trick, sealing PSV’s dominant 5-1 victory.
The win marks their eleventh consecutive away triumph in the Eredivisie and ends AZ’s eight-game unbeaten home streak.
PSV will travel to NAC Breda after the international break before heading to Liverpool for their UEFA Champions League clash.
