THURSDAY 7TH AUGUST

EUROPA LEAGUE – THIRD ROUND QUALIFYING – SECOND LEG

SKN ST. PÖLTEN 2 – 3 PSV

PSV WIN 4-2 ON AGGREGATE

After today, PSV will have qualified for the fourth qualifying round Europa League competition with an aggregated 2-4 win for PSV, they barely defeat Austrian underdogs St. Polten today with 2-3.

PSV has qualified for the play-off round of the Europa League in a filled 8,000 people NV Arena. It ended tonight with 2-3 for PSV and therefor they defeated ST. Polten. But it didn’t do it with a lot of conviction. The first hour was terrible with a lot of bad passing and terrible ball-contact moments of Phillip Cocu’s team. They made a lot of mistakes and let St. Polten play their own game.

However, St. Polten didn’t become real dangerous and in the 28’ minute PSV became dangerous with a great counter initiated by Adam Maher. Marcel Ritzmaier let Jurgen Locadia score the 1-0 with a diagonal goal. ST. Polten needed to make at least 3 goals to still win the match and it was a Goliath task by the Austrian underdog. But never lacking in support from the Austrian fans. The first real dangerous moment came from a slipper from Dutch defender Jeffry Bruma, but the attempt from Daniel Segovia landed just near the goal.

After the rest PSV’s game didn’t get any better. World Cup-star Memphis Depay started warming-up and proved to be of great value for PSV. Because just under a hour ST. Polten set the score straight and made the 1-1 after a long distant goal from forward Segovia. A fault of PSV keeper, who slipped, caused the keeper to lack to stop the attempt. 1-1. This caused St.Polten to believe in there chances and they pushed forward.

The much spoken Tottenham-target Memphis Depay was able to immediately score the 1-2 after a lucky PSV attack in the 68’ minute. 2 minutes later an assist from the same World Cup-star made Luuk de Jong score the 1-3 and PSV was certain to advance in the Europa League.

Konstatin Kerschbaumer, St. Polten best man today, restored there honour by making the 2-3 in extra time. But it didn’t matter. PSV is through with a poor game and result. One thing is for sure, the defense need some great investments otherwise it will be a tough year for PSV.

TEAMS

PSV: Zoet, Brenet, Bruma, Hendrix, Tamata, Maher, Hiljemark, Ritzmaier (Depay, 65), Narsingh (Arias 73’), De Jong, Locadia.

SUBS NOT USED: Pasveer, Koch, Wijnaldum, De Wijs, Boljevic.

GOALS: Locadia, 28., Memphis Depay, 68’, Luuk de Jong, 70.

BOOKINGS: Bruma 88’

ST. POLTEN: Kostner, Huber, Wislo, Grasegger, Holzmann (Ambichi 65), Stec, Parada Calvillo, Kerschbaumer, Hofbauer, Segovia (Noel 76), Fucik (Hartl 46).

SUBS NOT USED: Riegler, Brandl, Schibany, Hayden.

GOALS: Daniel Lucas Segovia, 56’., Konstatin Kerschbaumer, 90+3.

BOOKINGS: none.

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TotalDutchFootball.com

THURSDAY 31ST JULY

EUROPA LEAGUE – THIRD ROUND QUALIFYING – FIRST LEG

PSV 1-0 ST. POLTEN

PSV may rue the missing opportunities inside the Philips Stadion tonight as they will travel to Austria next week with a slender 1-0 lead over SKN St Pölten.

Philip Cocu chose a young side to face the Austrian Eerst Liga side with new signing Luuk de Jong spearheading the attack. Jeroen Zoet started in goal with an inexperienced back-four of Joshua Brenet, Jorrit Hendrix, Jeffrey Bruma and Abel Tamata ahead of him. In midfield, Oskar Hiljemark, Adam Maher and Marcel Ritzmaier lined up, with the latter returning from a successful period on loan at Cambuur last year. On the wings supporting De Jong saw Luciano Narsingh and Jurgen Locadia looking to supply the chances.

Although a young eleven was selected, the expectations inside the Philips Stadion was that PSV would send St. Polten back home with a hiding. That did not materialise. The Austrians arrived well organised and out to stifle the Eredivisie giants and stifle they did.

PSV could not get the ball into the box without an Austrian head or foot booting it away. No matter how much possession the hosts had they were unable to test the St. Polten goalkeeper Patrick Kostner. The major threats, ironically came from PSV’s Austrian midfielder Ritzmaier but he could not get his efforts from outside of the box on target.

After the team went into the break goal-less, PSV emerged with a grip on the game and the opening goal finally came on 56 minutes. Luciano Narsingh weaved some magic and placed a pin-point accurate ball to the back post where Luuk de Jong was waiting to head home.

Unable to add a second goal, it got worse late on for PSV. Stupidly, substitute Florain Jozefzoon received a double booking within four minutes by referee Slavko Vinčić for diving.

PSV head to Austria next week with the goal advantage and will need to improve if they wish to comfortably enter the next round.

TEAMS

PSV: Zoet, Brenet, Bruma, Hendrix, Tamata, Maher, Hiljemark, Ritzmaier (Vloet 78), Narsingh (Jozefzoon 72), De Jong, Locadia.

SUBS NOT USED: Pasveer, Koch, Leemans, De Wijs, Boljevic.

GOALS: De Jong 56.

BOOKINGS: De Jong 80, Jozefzoon 90.

SENT OFF: Jozefzoon 90+3.

ST. POLTEN: Kostner, Huber, Wislo, Grasegger, Holzmann (Ambichi 65), Stec, Parada Calvillo, Kerschbaumer, Hofbauer, Segovia (Noel 76), Fucik (Hartl 46).

SUBS NOT USED: Riegler, Brandl, Schibany, Hayden.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Segovia 30.

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