Beasley does it for PSV

By Kevin Ashby & John Atkin

PSV Eindhoven winger DaMarcus Beasley experienced the highs and lows of UEFA Champions League football against Olympique Lyonnais in the previous round, but will draw only from the positives ahead of their semi-final encounter with AC Milan on Tuesday.

'Worst penalty'
After a 1-1 second-leg draw took the aggregate scoreline to 2-2 at the Philips stadium, the game went to a penalty shoot-out. The home side were 3-2 ahead after three rounds when Beasley stepped up - and saw his effort saved. "It was quite the worst PK [penalty-kick] I've ever taken," he told uefa.com. "I looked up and he [Lyon goalkeeper Grégory Coupet] was going the way that I was going so I tried to change it at the last minute."

Mental fortitude
The miss proved insignificant, however, as Heurelho Gomes duly saved Eric Abidal's next attempt and PSV sealed a semi-final spot. There they will meet Milan and Beasley is confident he will not shirk the penalty-taking responsibility if the need arises again. "I felt terrible after missing but I'm a very confident person and if we get another one against Milan then I'm definitely going to take one," the 22-year-old said.

Squad rotation
The former Chicago Fire player has been on the fringes of the PSV team all season, but never far from the action as Guus Hiddink likes to rotate his starting eleven. After coming off the bench with 20 minutes remaining to help his side salvage a late 1-1 draw in Lyon, Beasley appeared just before the hour in Eindhoven with PSV looking to build on Alex's equaliser.

Abidal lassitude
"We thought their left-back Abidal was looking tired," the United States international said, "and as we'd had some success down that wing in the first half, I was introduced to see if we could do the same in the second and press for another goal. We didn't get it but I thought my coming on changed the game a little bit."

Eredivisie crown
Beasley played 90 minutes on Saturday as PSV secured a fourth Eredivisie title in six years with victory against SBV Vitesse. However, he is aware of the gulf in class between the competitions. "Compared to the Eredivisie, the intensity, mentality and physicality are all very different," he reflected. "The Champions League is simply two steps ahead.

Vital experience
"One week we're playing [FC] Den Bosch and the next we're up against one of the top teams in Europe so the mentality has to change, usually led by our veterans," he added. "We learn from their example so it's good we have the likes of [Phillip] Cocu and [Mark] van Bommel."

Old hand
Beasley may have to overcome another canny old hand if PSV are to enjoy success at the San Siro on Tuesday - in the form of a man 14 years his senior, Paolo Maldini. "It will be fun to come up against such a great player," said Beasley. "He's probably one of the best defenders Milan have ever produced and he's still going."

'Controlled game'
Nevertheless, neither he nor PSV will change their style to accommodate the Serie A side. "We'll play our own controlled game and hopefully force them to change for us," he said. "But I cannot say enough about Milan. It's going to be a tough, tough game."