Football United

PSV have reached the Amstel Cup final following a successful penalty shoot out against Feyenoord. The Eindhoven team will now meet either Ajax or Willem II on 29 May. For the second time in succession PSV went through after a penalty shoot out. When the final whistle went the score was still 1-1. Neither team managed to score a goal in extra time, so penalties had to be taken to get a result. Theo Lucius converted the decisive spot kick.

Just like last week against Olympique Lyon, PSV kept a cool head in extra time and during the penalty shoot out. PSV fielded an improvised team in extra time, after which Van Bommel, Park, Robert and Lucius converted their penalty. Feyenoord players Goor and De Graaf failed to score and PSV forward Farfán had his spot kick saved.
Salomon Kalou scored an early opening goal on four minutes but DaMarcus Beasley restored parity at the death.
Guus Hiddink was not in the Rotterdam Kuip; the PSV head coach had traveled to Milan to watch the AC Milan-Chievo league encounter in San Siro. His assistant coaches Fred Rutten and René Eijkelkamp took overin Rotterdam and brought about four changes to the regular starting line-up.

Phillip Cocu, André Ooijer, Johann Vogel and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink were all ruled out due to (slight) injuries. DaMarcus Beasley, Kasper Bøgelund, Theo Lucius and Gerald Sibon took their places and Ji-Sung Park was also given a place in the starting XI.



As soon as the cup tie was kicked off PSV created their first chance. Gerald Sibon controlled the ball well and put Jefferson Farfán clear. The Peruvian forward unleashed a shot that went just across the goal. Feyenoord responded in the most efficient way: Salomon Kalou, who was left unmarked, headed home the opening goal. Ands thus PSV were trailing 1-0, which is a rare phenomenon in the current season. The crowd in De Kuip fanatically supported the hosts, hoping to salvage some pride in a disappointing season by reaching the Amstel Cup final.

After Feyenoord had taken the lead, PSV patiently tried to find an opening and the hosts started a few lethal counter attacks. Theo Lucius and Feyenoord midfielder Nick Hofs were shown yellow cards. Kalou rattledf the bar on the stroke of half time and PSV keeper Gomes could thank his lucky star.

After the break the game continued in the same vein, but gradually PSV became the better team. Robert was brought on twenty minutes from final for Sibon and the effect was clearly noticeable. The Brazilian scored two goals that were both disallowed. The second goal did not stand as he was controversially judged to have been off-side. With ten minutes official time left, Gomes kept PSV in the game after he had thwarted Hofs with a fine save. PSV moved men forward in an attempt to score the equalizer and they were successful. They started another move two minutes from final time. Roberts fired on target, the ball was not properly cleared and fell to the American international DaMarcus Beasley who prodded home from close range, which was obviously a devastating blow to Feyenoord.

Alex left the pitch in extra time amd Ibrahim Afellay came on to replace him. Mark van Bommel was now played in the heart of defence and Afellay took over his position in midfield. Wilfred Bouma was replaced by Eric Addo in the second period of extra time. Robert hit the bar and PSV kept on trying to score the winning goal.

Just like last week PSV were the better team at the penalty shoot out, which means they are still in the race of winning silverware in all fronts.

Source: PSV.nl