Reis makes amends to topple København
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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PSV Eindhoven 1-0 FC København
Jonathan Reis made up for a missed penalty to score a second-half winner against København and strengthen PSV's position in Group K.
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PSV Eindhoven strengthened their lead in UEFA Europa League Group K after an uninspiring 1-0 victory over FC København.
Reis involvement
The first half was a low-key affair and the only chance of any note went begging when Jonathan Reis's penalty was saved by København keeper Johan Wiland. The same player turned hero in a similarly flat second half, though, with a stylish finish from Balázs Dzsudzsák's cross to move PSV on to seven points with their opponents now four points shy at the foot of the standings.
Defensive block
The home side was the first to exert any kind of pressure, winning three corners in quick succession, though none bore fruit. In contrast, the visitors were content sitting back, waiting to counterattack while PSV all too often ran out of ideas against the well-organised Danish defensive block. Much of the play was compressed into midfield and there were numerous offside decisions at both ends.
Penalty miss
Then, just after the half-hour mark, Fred Rutten's side were presented with a glorious opportunity. Mikael Antonsson was dispossessed just outside his own box and tripped Reis as he lined up a shot. However, Reis's subsequent spot-kick was parried by Wiland and the scoreline remained blank. The second half initially continued in the same vein, with defences on top and no apparent weakness in either rearguard.
Reis atones
Just before the hour PSV almost edged ahead, Orlando Engelaar's low cross deflected narrowly wide by Antonsson. But on 72 minutes Reis atoned for his earlier miss by expertly volleying Dzsudzsák's swirling cross from the left high into the net. Jesper Grønkjær forced an opening six minutes later as the Lions tried to get back into the match, but Andreas Isaksson saved his low shot comfortably and the visitors posed no further danger.