København cut up by PSV setback

PSV Eindhoven won the war of attrition against FC København to move three points clear at the top of UEFA Europa League Group K to the frustration of William Kvist.

Few openings
The contest was certainly not one for the purists, with precious few openings at either end and little space in a crowded midfield for any sparks of invention. PSV's 20-year-old Brazilian striker Jonathan Reis provided the game's two undisputed highlights, first by winning and then missing a first-half penalty and, more importantly, by scoring the only goal of the evening in the second half.

'Disappointed'
"Of course we are disappointed because we had a plan and would have been happy with one point," said København midfielder Kvist, acknowledging that his side set out to stifle the home team wherever possible. "But we know that PSV are a good side, and have very good players. Of all the teams we've played in this group so far, they are the best with the ball."

Missed opportunity
Team-mate Ulrik Laursen reflected on what he regarded as a missed opportunity. "In the end we could have equalised but it wasn't to be today." The chance he was referring to came seconds before the final whistle, when Brazilian striker Cesar Santin had an effort from point-blank range blocked by PSV goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. "It was a great save, he is in very good form at the moment and I hope he keeps it up," said the goalkeeper's compatriot and PSV team-mate Ola Toivonen.

Stubborn opposition
The Swedish striker and his PSV team-mates were delighted, if somewhat relieved, to take all three points from a game that looked for so long like it would remain goalless. "Especially in the first half they were very difficult to break down," he continued. "But in the second half we created a few more chances and in the end I think we deserved the victory."

Danish return
Players from both sides agreed that the return in Denmark would be a different proposition. "I'm 100 per cent sure we will see a more attack-minded København in the next match," said Toivonen. Laursen was slightly more cautious but still upbeat. "It may be a similar type of game because PSV could punish us on the counterattack, but I'm sure we can take more from it than we did today."