PSV played with a man down from the ninth minute after Joey Veerman was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Mexx Meerdink. Ivan Perišić came on in the 63rd minute but couldn't prevent the rout.
AZ won the Dutch Super Cup in impressive fashion, thrashing PSV 4-0 in a match played on August 2, 2026. The key moment came early when the visitors were reduced to ten men after a horrific foul that could have had serious consequences.
In the ninth minute, PSV midfielder Joey Veerman went for the ball with his foot raised high in midfield, but instead of the ball, his boot connected with Mexx Meerdink square in the face. The AZ striker lay on the turf with blood visible on his face.
Referee Serdar Gözübüyük initially played advantage and showed no card, but after a VAR intervention, he reviewed the footage and changed his decision, showing Veerman a straight red card. According to Opta, this was the fastest red card ever shown in a Johan Cruijff Shield match, and it was also the first red card of Veerman's senior career in 359 appearances.
Meerdink received medical treatment and continued the match with a bandage on his face. Ironically, it was he who in the 25th minute gave AZ the lead with a goal to make it 1-0. With the extra man, AZ took complete control of the match.
In the second half, Wesley Patati found the back of the net for 2-0, and Elijax Dijkstra extended the lead to 3-0. The final 4-0 was sealed by Ro-Zangelo Daal in the 66th minute from the penalty spot.
Croatian international Ivan Perišić entered the game in the 63rd minute, but by then the match was already decided. Perišić couldn't spark a comeback or soften the heavy defeat for his team in a match that went wrong for PSV from the very start.
