PSV Eindhoven separated from FC Copenhagen in a wild game with 4:4. Roger Schmidt’s team showed morale on several occasions.
With Max and Götze in the starting eleven, PSV coach Roger Schmidt wanted to set the tone in the first leg against Copenhagen in front of his home crowd, and it was to be a wild game. Eindhoven initially missed the opening phase, with Böving hitting the post for the visitors after just five minutes. Shortly afterwards, Johannesson rang the bell in the home side’s box, got around Drommel and easily slotted home (6th).
Desperate, PSV searched for control of the game but made too many mistakes going forward. Copenhagen lurked on those inaccuracies and almost went 2-0 up after 19 minutes, but Lerager failed to beat Drommel. Shortly afterwards, Eindhoven equalised out of nowhere, Gakpo heading a fine cross from Madueke under the crossbar (21st) – it was the Dutch side’s first shot on goal
Equaliser doesn’t last a minute
The Schmidt team’s joy at the equaliser did not last long, however, as Pep Biel restored Copenhagen’s lead less than 60 seconds later after Veerman had carelessly misplaced the ball in the build-up. Once again trailing, PSV were now able to get a foothold in the Danish record champions’ half more often, and Madueke missed the equaliser somewhat miserably after just over half an hour (33rd). Copenhagen were much more consistent in front of goal, and shortly before the break Lerager headed home a corner to make it 3:1 for the visitors (43).
In the second half, Schmidt brought in two fresh attacking players, Zahavi and the former Bielefeld player Doan, and the latter immediately scored the equaliser – after a corner by Gakpo, the Japanese player scored with a direct shot down the left (50th). PSV then invested a lot in the forward line, and Copenhagen had to survive several attempts on goal.
Gakpo fails to score from the spot and equalises
On 62 minutes, Gakpo had a great chance for his brace but the PSV captain missed a penalty after Max was fouled in the box. Eight minutes later, however, the 22-year-old made amends for his miss, tapping home a rebound from Götze’s shot from close range.
Everything looked as if the game would now turn on the side of the home side, but Eindhoven made the next mistake in the defence: Sangaré played the ball into the foot of Pep Biel, the Spaniard left Obispo standing and then shot into the right corner (78th). But that was not the end of the game, as PSV showed morale again and were rewarded for a strong second half with the 4:4 – Zahavi headed in a cross from Gakpo.
The Schmidt team could and had to live with the draw, because the substitute Hojlund missed the 5:4 for the visitors in the last second from a promising position. So everything is still open for the second leg, which will take place next Thursday (18:45) in Copenhagen.
