Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven held firm to beat NEC Nijmegen 3-2 at the Philips Stadium on Thursday night and book their place in the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker, the Dutch football cup.

Dries Mertens put the home side in front in the fifth minute, but Nick van der Velden’s 15th-minute equaliser gave the visitors hope of an upset.

Tim Matavz and Kevin Strootman put the hosts in the driving seat before half-time and, although Lasse Schone narrowed the deficit, NEC were not able to find an equaliser.