PSV through as group winners
PSV Eindhoven secured top spot in Europa League Group I as they played out an entertaining goalless draw with Metalist Kharkiv.
With both teams already having qualified for the last 32, the only issue left to decide was who would finish top of the group.
The Ukrainian visitors needed a sizeable win to achieve that and, though they had the better chances throughout, they could not find the back of the net.
Metalist were happy to shoot on sight early on with both Taison and Edmar sending long-range efforts over the bar.
Taison did better in the 12th minute when he struck from 20 yards, drawing a save from Cassio Ramos, who turned the ball behind.
Metalist then threatened with a succession of corners, before one from Cleiton Xavier fell to Edmar, whose effort was blocked by Stijn Wuytens.
Wuytens then had an effort of his own, but his header from 12 yards was held by Maxim Startsev.
Perhaps the best chance of the half fell to Cleiton Xavier after 36 minutes, when he got behind the PSV defence but shot wide with only Cassio to beat.
Three minutes before the break Cassio turned Taison's strike from the edge of the box over the bar, and the goalkeeper was again on hand when Vitali Bordiyan shot just before the break, moments after the same player had an effort blocked by Wuytens.
Cassio was in action again two minutes after the restart when he held Edmar's effort from a narrow angle.
His opposite number then produced a good save, turning behind Otman Bakkal's strike from Francisco Rodriguez's free-kick.
Startsev then held onto Jeremain Lens' 20-yard hit as the opening stages of the second period continued at a furious pace.
With PSV starting to assert themselves, Rodriguez's header was cleared by Papa Gueye and Bakkal nodded Nordin Amrabat's cross wide, before Startsev turned another Lens crack over.
At the other end, Gueye's attempt was blocked by Jagos Vukovic and Milan Obradovic sent the ball over.
Ola Toivonen tried his luck within moments of coming on as a 68th-minute substitute but found Startsev in the way, and Wuytens again proved an obstacle as he got in the way of Denis Oliynyk's shot.
Late efforts from Oliynyk and Volodymyr Lysenko came to nought, before Startsev denied Lens a winner which would have been harsh on Metalist.
PSV 0-0 FC Metalist Kharkiv: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
