PSV 3-1 Lille: Match Report

24 February 2011 20:44
PSV set up Rangers clash PSV Eindhoven progressed through to the last 16 of the Europa League after fighting back from a half-time deficit to secure an ultimately convincing 3-1 victory over 10-man Lille. PSV, who battled back from 2-0 down to draw the first leg thanks to two late goals, suffered another scare in this game when Lille took a 22nd-minute lead against the run of play through Pierre-Alain Frau. However, the Dutch giants fought back after the break and drew level through Balazs Dzsudzsak's quickly-taken free-kick before Lille were reduced to 10 men just after the hour when Frau picked up the second of two quick bookings. PSV wasted no time in making the most of their man advantage and soon added two more goals through Jeremain Lens and Antonio Marcelo to set up a clash with Rangers in the next phase. The home side started well and went close three times early on with Marcus Berg testing Barel Mouko in the second minute before the Swedish striker slid a shot against the post eight minutes later. Berg also charged down an attempted clearance by Mouko from just in front of the Lille net but, fortunately for the visiting custodian, the rebound went wide. A goal looked on the cards, but the surprise was that it came at the other end following a perfect example of route-one football from Lille. Mouko's long goal-kick was flicked on by Vinicius De Melo's head and Frau burst between two PSV defenders before driving a low shot through Andreas Isaksson's legs. That was a big blow to PSV, but they had chances to get back on terms by the interval with Lens and Berg failing to take two of them. PSV could not restore parity before half-time, but they had to wait just nine minutes of the second period to get the goal they deserved. Dzsudzsak was the scorer, curling a quick free-kick into the far corner of the net while Mouko was still standing by his left-hand post trying to line up his wall. That was a disappointing way for Lille to lose their advantage, and things got worse for the French side in the 62nd minute when Frau, just five minutes after being cautioned, tripped up Ola Toivonen to earn a second booking. Within 11 minutes of that incident PSV had put the game to bed after netting twice. Lens made it 2-1 in the 66th minute after playing a good one-two with Berg before slotting into an empty net, and then Marcelo rose unmarked on the six-yard box to head in Dzsudzsak's corner to make it 3-1. There was no way back for Lille after that, although they could have set up an interesting finale if Moussa Sow had managed to score after breaking through late on, but Isaksson was able to beat away his effort.

PSV 3-1 Lille: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: DSG