PSV returned to the top of the Eredivisie summit on Sunday by clinching its 25th league title in style.
Peter Bosz’s men defeated Sparta Rotterdam 4-2 on Sunday, scoring twice in the second half to take the lead and eventually pull away at the Philips Stadion. Malik Tillman started and played 90 minutes in midfield while Ricardo Pepi came off the bench and registered one assist in a 12-minute cameo.
After the teams went into halftime tied at 2-2, PSV used second-half goals from Olivier Boscagli and Jordan Teze to flip the match in its favor.
Injured U.S. men’s national team fullback Sergino Dest was not in the squad due to his torn ACL but played a vital role in the squad this season. Dest made 37 combined appearances for PSV, logging two goals and seven assists across all competitions.
PSV is reportedly interested in acquiring Dest permanently from parent club Barcelona this summer.
Tillman, who joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, has totaled nine goals and 15 assists in 37 combined appearances of his own. The 21-year-old remains linked with a potential permanent move to PSV despite signing a contract extension with Bayern last summer.
Pepi mainly featured off the bench for PSV this season after moving on a permanent deal from Augsburg last summer. The 21-year-old has registered 632 minutes of playing time to date, scoring nine goals and adding two assists.
Former U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart also enjoyed his first trophy success since moving back to the Netherlands. Stewart, who serves as PSV’s technical director, was key in the loan signings of both Dest and Tillman, as well as the permanent acquisition of Pepi.
PSV has two final matches on its schedule this month against Fortuna Sittard and RKC Waalwijk respectively.
