Oct 3, 2023 at 10:56 PM Update: 2 minutes ago
PSV drew 2-2 against Sevilla in an exciting Champions League match on Tuesday evening. The Eindhoven team was heading for their second defeat in the million-dollar event, but took another point thanks to a late goal from Jordan Teze.
Gudelj, a former player for NAC Breda and Ajax, among others, had put Sevilla at 0-1 after 68 minutes on a pass from Sergio Ramos. Fifteen minutes earlier, Sevilla’s goal had already been disallowed. Adriá Pedrosa scored flawlessly after a mistake by André Ramalho, but made a handball in the run-up to the goal.
To the anger of Sevilla’s staff and players, VAR intervened and the goal was canceled. PSV, with Jerdy Schouten, Malik Tillman and Sergiño Dest starting in the starting line-up, had a number of great chances before and after and equalized in the 86th minute through former Sevilla striker De Jong.
The attacker took advantage of a penalty, which was awarded after a foul by Tillman. PSV seemed likely to get at least a point, but conceded the 1-2 a minute later through Youssef En Nesyri. PSV was heading for a defeat, but still fought back to 2-2 thanks to a goal from Teze.
The Eindhoven team thus took their first point in this Champions League season, after the team suffered a hard defeat at Arsenal two weeks ago (4-0 defeat). The London club surprisingly lost 2-1 at RC Lens on Tuesday evening. Gabriel Jesus gave Arsenal a 0-1 lead in the fourteenth minute, but the French won thanks to goals from Adrien Thomasson (25th minute) and Elye Wahi (69th minute).
PSV is at the bottom with one point after two group matches. The next Champions League match is on October 24, away at Lens. The Eindhoven team will play at home against Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie on Saturday.
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Teze provides PSV with relief with a late equalizer
PSV was the parent in the first half
There is no match for PSV in the competition, but the Eindhoven team did receive a hard blow from Arsenal two weeks ago in the first group match in the Champions League. The match against Sevilla was therefore immediately important for PSV in the battle for wintering and a good indicator of where the team stands internationally.
Good news for trainer Peter Bosz was that playmaker Schouten turned out to be fit enough to start, as well as Dest. Ramalho started instead of the not entirely fit Armel Bella-Kotchap. The PSV coach also chose Tillman as an attacking midfielder, after he made a dazzling impression against FC Volendam (3-1 win) on Saturday.
PSV also had a fantastic start against Sevilla in an atmospheric Philips Stadium, with Ivan Rakitic and Real Madrid icon Ramos in the starting line-up. The Eindhoven team were the dominant party in the first half. But as many chances as PSV had in the match against FC Volendam on Saturday, Bosz’s team did not create against Sevilla as expected.
The biggest opportunity after sixteen minutes was for Luuk de Jong, playing against his old club, who cut through his opponent after a through ball, but saw his effort blocked by the experienced Ramos. Just before half-time, Ramalho thought he could open the score with a striking header, but he was just offside.
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De Jong uses penalty against Sevilla
Sevilla strikes after the break
But PSV also kept things close at the back. Sevilla did not really become dangerous, except for a fiery shot from Dodi Lukébakio. How different was it after the break, when PSV got away very well within two minutes. After a mistake by Ramalho, Pedrosa was given a free passage towards goalkeeper Walter Benítez and the defender shot flawlessly.
But after an intervention by the VAR, who found Pedrosa’s hands, the goal was canceled. While Seville’s staff and players were still complaining, the Spaniards got another giant chance. And Nesyri suddenly had a free run at Benítez, but fired at the crossbar.
PSV swerved, but continued to attack themselves. Noa Lang came through dangerously on several occasions and was close to the opening goal in the 63rd minute. The attacker’s effort bounced off the post. PSV seemed to be on the hunt for the winning goal in the final phase, but instead had to give chase.
Gudelj scored on a pass from Ramos. PSV did not give up and fought back to 1-1 with a striking penalty from De Jong. The celebration in Eindhoven was short-lived, as En Nesyri headed in the 1-2 almost immediately after kick-off.
PSV seemed unable to overcome that sledgehammer, but Teze still managed to score the equalizer. The Eindhoven team is still waiting for their first Champions League victory since 2015, but the late point will feel like a victory.
Joy at PSV after the late 2-2. Photo: ANP