Park pushes PSV within a whisker

By Michael Harrold at the Philips stadium

When PSV Eindhoven's UEFA Champions League campaign began last autumn, their supporters would have been happy just to see them advance beyond the group stage. After all, PSV had not reached the knockout rounds in eight attempts.

Rossoneri roll on
They know what it is all about now – even if Massimo Ambrosini's added-time strike ultimately ensured AC Milan face Liverpool FC in the final. PSV were thrilling 3-1 winners on the night, but it is the Milan juggernaut that rolls on.

Visitors stretched
PSV's fans, however, could not have asked for more. Even after Ambrosini had cut the deficit to 2-1, PSV still had it in them to hit back, Phillip Cocu scoring his second to restore their two-goal advantage in the game. It was not enough, but PSV had done more than many had expected in pushing Milan to the limit.

Attritional Milan
Milan, by their own admission, have not been playing their best football of the season. Effective, of course, but attritional rather than flamboyant. Liverpool too, after an initial ferocious 20 minutes against Juventus FC at Anfield, have ground their opposition down.

PSV press
A tired Chelsea FC found that out to their cost on Tuesday, former PSV strikers Arjen Robben and Mateja Kezman cutting forlorn figures on Merseyside. In stark contrast, Guus Hiddink's current crop picked up where they left off at the San Siro, cutting into the Milan rearguard.

Park command
No tired legs here, PSV were playing with a freshness and inventiveness unmatched by the other semi-finalists. Hiddink, of course, was the catalyst. He pushed Ji-Sung Park in behind Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rather than deploying the Korean on the right flank as expected and the 24-year-old took command.

Milan overrun
Even with the extra cover of Ambrosini in midfield, Milan were overrun. When Paolo Maldini was carried off on a stretcher after taking a blow to the head on five minutes the Rossoneri were already reeling. When he returned, they were behind, Park running from deep to smash the ball beyond Dida.

Beating heart
The Philips stadium was alive, Park its beating heart. The Korean ran at the Milan defence after collecting Gennaro Gattuso's uncharacteristically errant pass, then picked the ball off Kaká's toes as he tracked back. Gattuso's raised arms and look of frustration when another pass went astray moments later told its own story – Milan were rattled.

Maldini off
How Maldini must have wished he had seen the last of Park, who had been on the winning side in Daejeon when the Korean Republic eliminated Italy from the 2002 FIFA World Cup - a defeat which hastened Maldini's international retirement. The 36-year-old, struggling after that early knock, was replaced at half-time, sparing him any further torment.

Master's plan
Park, of course, was only following the master's plan. With Andriy Shevchenko deployed as a lone striker by Milan, Hiddink pushed Park's compatriot Lee Young-Pyo forward down the left and reverted to three at the back. Hiddink may have looked on with some envy at Milan's array of world-class strikers. But he had found his own solution - PSV would attack as a team and it was a joy to watch.

Job done
Fittingly Lee provided the cross for Cocu to pull Milan level on 65 minutes. Suddenly, in this era of the underdog, PSV supporters dared to believe. But it was not to be. Milan may not have been pretty but Ambrosini ensured they got the job done. PSV had thrilled but must look to the future to go one better.