PSV loses to Leicester and misses the Conference League semi-final | Football

It was sweltering beforehand in the Philips Stadium. PSV hadn’t played such an important European game for a long time. Since 2011, the Eindhoven team had not reached the quarterfinals of a European tournament. After the 0-0 draw in Leicester, PSV had every prospect of reaching the semi-finals.

Better ranking

It was then about Champions League football – PSV was eliminated in the semi-finals by a late goal from AC Milan – and of course the Conference League is of a different caliber, but there is great enthusiasm in the Netherlands about the new, third European tournament. Due to the good results of the Dutch clubs in the Conference League, a better classification in the coefficient ranking beckons and perhaps in the long run an extra starting ticket for the Champions League.

PSV coach Roger Schmidt had to adjust his team in two positions compared to the visit to England due to the injuries of attacker Noni Madueke and center defender Olivier Boscagli. The French defender, who has to rehabilitate for seven to eight months due to a serious knee injury, received a heart from his teammates when he came out with special t-shirts with a text.

Ferryman

Schmidt had made up for the absence of both compared to the first game against Leicester City with Erick Gutierrez and Jordan Teze. The Mexican midfielder, who was suspended last week, has again formed a tandem in midfield with Ibrahim Sangaré. Joey Veerman did not disappear from the base in favor of an attacker, but played hanging from the side. Teze formed a couple in the back with André Ramalho, with which the Brazilian took on the role of Boscagli.

Eran Zahavi punishes loss of ball from Youri Tielemans (background) and blasts in the 1-0.

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Just like in Leicester, the first big chance of the game was for Götze. The German was released well, but found the fists of Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel with his shot. Immediately afterwards, Leicester also had a great chance to open the score, when Harvey Barnes got free passage towards PSV’s goal and Ramalho couldn’t catch him. The Englishman’s effort went just short of Yvon Mvogo’s goal. After the equal opening phase, PSV emphatically took matters into their own hands, where Leicester City had done so in England last week.

The number 9 in the Premier League had little to contribute at this stage of the match and after Mauro Junior put Schmeichel to work with a fine shot, PSV took the deserved lead. After Youri Tielemans lost the ball, Götze, who played very well, and Eran Zahavi put on a great combination, which was crowned by the Israeli striker from a difficult angle. The enthusiastically compassionate Philips Stadium exploded with joy for ninety minutes.

Leicester turns on

After the deficit, Leicester pushed on a bit more, but PSV remained relatively easy on their feet. Teze kicked a deflected ball off the goal line, Timothy Castagne headed wide and a shot by James Maddison, one of the better players at Leicester, went over.

The PSV players are overjoyed after the 1-0 by Eran Zahavi (far left).

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The battle plan at PSV worked with a good midfield line-up, where Sangaré and Gutierrez, who played almost flawlessly, guarded the balance well and Götze and the dropping Veerman provided a lot of football with their passing.

Leicester City previously considered themselves favorites, and that is not surprising with a selection that has an estimated transfer value of more than 500 million, three times more than the PSV selection. With Ademola Lookman and Patson Daka as substitutes, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers tried to get a better grip on the game.

Kansen Zahavi in ​​Sangare

The second half was a great back and forth game with chances for both sides. PSV got through the eye of the needle when Daka and Maddison had great opportunities, but was also close to a 2-0 lead several times. Zahavi headed over from close range, Veerman’s deflected shot went just wide, while Sangaré had the chance to make it 2-0. The Ivorian shot the ball from close range.

It turned out to be a defining moment, because moments later the English equalized. Leicester came through well over the left side of PSV, where just before Philipp Max had made way for youngster Frederik Oppegard, and the strongest Leicester player Maddison left Mvogo without a chance with a strong finish.

Fresh forces

With thirteen minutes left, Leicester tried to push through to avoid extra time. With Ritsu Doan and Carlos Vinicius, Schmidt brought in two fresh forces for Veerman and Zahavi, whereby the substitution for the Israeli striker could have come earlier, because the goalscorer had difficulty walking the large spaces. After the equalizer, PSV came under heavy pressure. While Mvogo first kept his team in the race with a clever reflex on a bet by Leicester substitute Ayoze Perez, things went wrong in the 88th minute for the so bravely fighting home team. After a good combination from Leicester, Ricardo Pereira plunged the Philips Stadium into mourning: 1-2.