PSV beat Juventus in extra time to reach Champions League last 16
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PSV Eindhoven's Dutch forward Luuk De Jong (C) celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off 2nd leg football match between PSV Eindhoven and Juventus at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven on February 19, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
Dutch champions PSV
Eindhoven battled into the last 16 of the Champions League Wednesday, after a
pulsating 3-1 extra-time win over Juventus gave them a 4-3 aggregate play-off
victory.
Centre-back Ryan
Flamingo seized on some poor Juventus defending to poke the ball home in the
first period of extra time, sending PSV through to face either Arsenal or Inter
Milan.
"Everyone gave it
their all today," said PSV captain and talismanic striker Luuk de Jong.
"We had our backs
up against the wall but we kept pushing and we deserved to make it 3-1. So that
was great, just fantastic," added the 34-year-old.
Roared on by a
boisterous crowd at the Philips Stadion, the hosts started the brighter,
pressing the Juventus defence, dominating possession, and winning 50-50 balls.
But the first half ended
goalless, PSV unable to turn possession into opportunity and Juventus happy to
sit on their 2-1 lead from the first leg in Turin.
Needing a goal to stay
in the tie, the home side attacked the second half with more urgency, and with
53 minutes on the clock, PSV were back in the tie with a magnificent goal.
Winger Noa Lang beat two
Juventus defenders and delivered a pinpoint pass to veteran Croatian attacker
Ivan Perisic, who controlled the ball brilliantly and drilled an unstoppable shot
into the corner.
"That's the type of
player I am. I like it when there are a lot of guys in front of me, when I'm
double-covered a bit," said man-of-the-match Lang.
"I like that better
than one-on-one. That may sound strange, but I like the bigger challenge."
PSV were well on top,
Lang curling a shot just past the post and De Jong seeing his header cleared
off the line.
But against the run of
play, the Serie A side took back the aggregate lead via a fantastic strike from
Timothy Weah, who blazed a low shot past Walter Benitez from outside the
penalty area.
PSV continued to press
hard and the pressure eventually told as Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari
seized on a goalmouth scramble to smash the ball into the top corner.
With the score at 3-3 on
aggregate, the Dutch champions had several agonising chances to wrap the match
up in the last five minutes, Lang in particular denied by an outstretched foot
from goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Saibari fluffed a chance
to take the lead in the second minute of extra time, scuffing his shot at Di
Gregorio when clean through on goal.
But then the hosts took
the lead, as Flamingo pounced on some goalmouth confusion in the Juventus
defence to poke the ball home from point-blank range.
"You just have to
be there. I used to be a striker, so I have a nose for it," joked
Flamingo, who now has three Champions League goals to his name.
The onus was now on
Juventus to attack and Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic was unlucky to see his
effort rebound off the post.
The PSV faithful endured
a nailbiting second period of extra time, but saw their defence hold firm to
cap a memorable night in Eindhoven.
The defeat sealed a
miserable play-off phase for Italian clubs after AC Milan were sent packing by
Feyenoord and Atalanta lost to Club Brugge.
"It was a really
great atmosphere today. Every moment was great. It was an unforgettable
evening," said match-winner Flamingo.
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