Miraculous Champions League victory for PSV with three goals in the last eight minutes

NOS Football•yesterday, 10:53 PM

PSV miraculously won the Champions League match with Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2. The Eindhoven team fell behind 0-2 at home, but scored three goals against ten Ukrainians in the last eight minutes of the match.

The equalizer came in the 90th minute from the foot of Mark Tillman, who had also scored the tying goal shortly before with the help of the otherwise excellent goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. Substitute Ricardo Pepi ensured that the three points remained in Eindhoven in the last minute of extra time.

The unexpected comeback came a day after the already sensational one reassembled from the other Dutch club in the Champions League: yesterday, Feyenoord managed to score a draw at Manchester City after being 3-0 behind fifteen minutes before the end.

With away games against Stade Brest and Red Star Belgrade and a home game against Liverpool ahead of them, Peter Bosz’s PSV is still on course for a place among the best 24, which is good for qualification for the intermediate round.

They were in doubt and also missed Saturday’s league match against FC Groningen (5-0), but both Luuk de Jong and Noa Lang turned out to be fit enough to kick off in the third home inning in the Champions League.

However, the first danger came from the third man in the front line: Johan Bakayoko. The winger, who slowly emerged from a dip in form, tested goalkeeper Riznyk after six minutes, who was not surprised and moments later sent his own team on the attack with a long throw.

The rising right back Yukhym Konoplia picked up the ball, entered into a one-two with Oleksandr Zubkov and then delivered a cross, which was slid into the Eindhoven goal by Danylo Sikan, who had crept in front of Ryan Flamingo: 0-1.

After that, the Ukrainian guests remained the team with the most threat, also because De Jong was unable to control a cross in a promising position. Then Lang, Ismael Saibari and Bakayoko again tried with a shot, but Riznyk was always ready.

PSV already looked vulnerable on the left flank several times and this became clear again after half an hour, when Dams was not paying attention and lost the ball to the chasing Konoplia. That served Zubkov, who found the far bottom corner around Flamingo: 0-2.

De Jong’s return to the starting line-up was at the expense of Pepi, who had distinguished himself against Groningen with a hat trick and is now co-top scorer in the Premier League. It is therefore not surprising that Bosz called on the American striker after half-time, who came to relieve the unfortunate Dams.

With all-rounder Mauro Júnior now in the left back position, PSV immediately stepped up the pace and that quickly resulted in Tillman’s shot that just flew over. The next big chance was again for Shakhtar. After a long throw-in, Pedrinho immediately took the falling ball and saw his effort bounce just wide.

The same Brazilian was given a red card in the 68th minute after a nasty attack on Bakayoko’s ankle. At PSV, thoughts immediately went to the away match against Sevilla a year ago when a 2-0 deficit was turned into a 2-3 win with one man left.

The recovered Bakayoko was close to making the first move, but Riznyk once again had a great save in store. Two Pepi headers lacked power and direction. The Ukrainian closing post also did not flinch after a header from substitute Guus Til and a shot from Bakayoko.

Yet he proved not to be infallible. A free kick just before the end from Tillman ended up in his arms, but Riznyk slid the ball over the line himself: 1-2.

That was also the prelude to a hectic final phase, which actually gave PSV what it had hoped for. Tillman drove the ball into the top corner in the 90th minute and while the last minute of extra time was already running, Ricardo also scored the winner: 3-2.