Dutch football champions PSV Eindhoven defeated Cup holders Feyenoord Rotterdam 1-0 to capture the Johan Cruijff Shield, the Dutch Super Cup, in the Amsterdam Arena here.
In the traditional start of the Dutch soccer season on Sunday, PSV were the stronger side in the first half. With a free-kick Andres Guardado hit the cross-bar and in the 29th minute the reigning champions were awarded a penalty for a foul by Karim El Ahmadi on Jorrit Hendrix, reports Xinhua.
PSV failed to take the lead. Captain Luuk de Jong missed from the penalty spot as he hit the cross-bar.
Davy Propper finally scored for PSV in the 38th minute. His shot was slightly deflected and went into the corner past Feyenoord goalkeeper Par Hansson, who replaced the injured first three goalkeepers Kenneth Vermeer, Warner Hahn and new signing Brad Jones.
Feyenoord started the second half with pressure on the PSV goal and created several chances. New Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen was among the players to miss the target.
PSV managed to hold the lead and could have doubled the score in the final minutes, but Jetro Willems missed a good opportunity.
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With the 1-0 victory PSV won the Dutch Super Cup for the 11th time in history, which is a record. Ajax are second on the list with 8 victories.
"This is another nice win, we are very happy," PSV coach Phillip Cocu said afterwards at the press conference.
"The first half was good from our side, but the second half was a different story. However, based on character we maintained the lead. I am satisfied with that."
Feyenoord coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst said: "To beat PSV you have to be good for 90 minutes. We were not. We did not play at our best in the first half. Only the first 20 minutes after half-time I saw the Feyenoord I want to see."
PSV captain Luuk de Jong received the Shield out of the hands of Susila Cruijff, daughter of the late Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruijff, who died at the age of 68 on March 24 this year. The Dutch Super Cup is named after Cruijff since 1996.
--IANS
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