PSV’s Struggles Persist as Late Equaliser Secures Stalemate with FC Utrecht

The reigning champions PSV have once again dropped points in the Eredivisie, with a 2-2 draw against third-placed FC Utrecht, narrowly escaping a first home loss since 2022.

PSV’s form has taken a nosedive since the start of the year, managing only one victory in their last five league outings, with their sole win coming in a 3-2 thriller against NAC Breda on January 25th. This troubling trend saw the league leaders slip to second place following a late draw with Willem II, while Ajax capitalised by defeating Fortuna Sittard the following day.

FC Utrecht, meanwhile, has endured a rocky start to 2025, having claimed only one victory in the league since the Christmas break. Their winless streak stretched to five games, including an unexpected loss to lowly Almere City, effectively removing them from title contention and widening the gap to the summit to nine points.

It was not long before PSV struck first. Armando Obispo opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful header from a corner taken by Joey Veerman.

However, Utrecht responded swiftly, equalising just five minutes later through Mike van der Hoorn, who headed home a dangerous cross from Jens Toornstra.

PSV chased the lead vigorously following Van der Hoorn’s goal, yet attempts from Veerman, Richard Ledezma, Guus Til, and Obispo were thwarted by the impressive Vasilios Barkas before the interval.

Continuing their assault in the second half, PSV kept Utrecht under pressure, allowing them only a handful of chances, yet they were unable to regain the lead as Barkas denied Johan Bakayoko and Ivan Perisic.

The golden opportunity PSV afforded Utrecht came back to haunt them, as the visitors took the lead for the first time when Paxten Aaronson stunned his compatriot Richard Ledezma by heading in the 2-1 after 75 minutes.

Realising they needed to up the tempo, PSV bombarded the Utrecht defence, but Barkas was outstanding in goal, pulling off a series of remarkable saves to keep his side in the match.

Despite Barkas’s heroics, a dramatic late equaliser from Isaac Babadi, who converted a cross from Noa Lang in the second minute of added time, salvaged a point for PSV.

Utrecht nearly clinched a momentous win in Eindhoven for the first time since 1980, but Miliano Jonathans squandered a golden chance only two minutes after Babadi’s equaliser, missing a one-on-one against Benitez.

PSV, having dropped points for the fifth time in their last six league games, now risk losing top spot to Ajax, who can take the lead with a win against Heracles Almelo tomorrow. FC Utrecht aimed to cut the gap to PSV to just six points but could slip to fourth place later this weekend depending on other results.