EINDHOVEN--PSV Eindhoven got off to a good start in the Europa League group stages with a 3-2 victory over Sporting club de Portugal.
Mark van Bommel made no changes from the side that defeated Vitesse Arnhem 5-0 at the weekend with Donyell Malen fresh from scoring five goals.
Sporting made a bright start but it was PSV who took the lead in the 19th minute. Malen raced onto an excellent pass by Mohamed Ihattaren before sending a deflected strike into the bottom corner. Six minutes later, it was 2-0 when Bruma’s cross was put into his own net by defender Sebastien Coates.
Sporting did not trouble goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet much but seven minutes before the break they were awarded a penalty after a clumsy foul by Jorrit Hendrix. Bruno Fernandes slotted past Zoet to make it 2-1.
Three minutes after the break, PSV made it 3-1 when a corner made its way to Timo Baumgartl and the centre back slotted into the net.
Zoet then kept Sporting at bay with several saves while Denzel Dumfries wasted a chance to make it 4-1 with a header.
Ten minutes before the end, substitute Pedro Mendes made it 3-2 with a low strike from the edge of the area. However, PSV saw out the rest of the game and could have made it 4-2 but Ritsu Doan’s strike was turned wide.
PSV get off to a great start in the group and can now put their focus on facing Ajax Amsterdam this weekend.
In an emotional evening that saw Ibrox pay tribute to Fernando Ricksen, Feyenoord Rotterdam went down 1-0 to Glasgow Rangers in the Europa League.
Before the game began, a minute silence was held for Ricksen, who passed away on Wednesday. In the second minute, the crowd applauded the memory of the former Rangers, Fortuna Sittard and AZ Alkmaar midfielder.
Feyenoord made a positive start and Sam Larsson should have scored the opener but could only find the side netting after Orkun Kökcü’s strike was parried.
In the 10th minute, Rangers were awarded a penalty when Edgar Ie was penalised for the ball hitting his raised arm. James Tavernier hit the post with his spot-kick.
After that, Feyenoord were overrun by the home side and the woodwork came to their rescue again to deny Scott Arfield. However, Sheyi Ojo finally gave the home side the lead with a great strike in the 23rd minute.
Kenneth Vermeer then prevented further goals before the break with a fine double save from Alfredo Morelos.
Feyenoord should have equalised minutes into the second half but Eric Botteghin could only head wide from a free header. Leroy Fer and Steven Berghuis also went close but an equaliser was not found.
Nicolai Jørgensen and Jens Toornstra were introduced from the bench but neither could lift Feyenoord and Rangers held on for the victory.
Calvin Stengs and Myron Boadu earned 10-man AZ Alkmaar a 2-2 draw in Serbia against Partizan Belgrade. AZ headed to Serbia with confidence after their simple win over Sparta Rotterdam at the weekend and they dominated the early stages.
Myron Boadu fired just wide before the opening goal came in the 12th minute. Oussama Idrissi found Boadu who then set up Calvin Stengs to tap in from close range. AZ were very comfortable but in the 26th minute, Jonas Svensson was shown a straight red card for bringing down Takuma Asano.
From that point, Partizan took charge and just before half-time they were awarded a penalty when Stijn Wuytens took down former NAC striker Umar Sadiq. Bibras Natcho smashed the penalty past Marco Bizot to make it 1-1.
On the hour mark, Partizan took the lead when Sadiq hit the post before Natcho slotted in the rebound. That seemed to be a nail in the coffin for AZ but five minutes later they equalised. Stengs found Boadu with an excellent pass and the striker calmly slotted in the equaliser. Partizan went for the winning goal but the chances never materialised and AZ held on for a precious point.
