PSV too strong for Helsingborg

PSV Eindhoven coasted into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after a 2-1 triumph at Helsingborgs IF earned them a comfortable 4-1 aggregate win.

Eindhoven advance
Second-half strikes from Otman Bakkal and Danko Lazović added to the damage inflicted by last week's 2-0 victory to render Leandro Castan's 81st-minute goal for the Swedes purely consolatory. PSV will now meet Tottenham Hotspur FC in the next round.

Early efforts
The match had begun promisingly for Helsingborg, though, with Christoffer Andersson sending three consecutive corners into the box within the opening eight minutes. But after none found a team-mate and Lazović quickly responded for PSV by firing a rising shot over the bar. Despite that warning, the hosts continued to squander chances with veteran striker Henrik Larsson particularly guilty. He shot just wide after PSV keeper Heurelho Gomes had parried René Makondele's 21st-minute effort, and then failed to make amends from the rebound of an Andreas Jakobsson attempt three minutes later.

End-to-end action
It was end-to-end action shortly before half-time, especially when Gomes launched a PSV counterattack by parrying Martin Kolář's free-kick – only for the ball to be cleared right back to Kolář. Given a second chance, the Czech midfielder this time missed the target completely. Following a half of missed opportunities, PSV proved ruthless in the second period. Following a good ball from Mike Zonneveld, Bakkal fired a low shot into the corner two minutes after the break.

Clever pass
A string of teasing crosses failed to create an opening for Helsingborg at the other end, and they were punished again in the 64th minute by Lazović. Bakkal was the provider and his clever pass from the right channel allowed his Serbian colleague to pick his spot from the centre of the penalty area. The hosts refused to give up, though, and their persistence paid off when Castan finally converted one of Andersson's many corners to give them the goal their play deserved.