Luuk de Jong is in ecstasy after his winning goal for PSV in the return against AS Monaco in the third preliminary round of the Champions League. The striker headed in the 3-2 in extra time on Tuesday, so that the Eindhoven team qualified for the play-offs.
“These are the beautiful evenings”, De Jong exulted at ESPN. “It’s fantastic to head in the winning team and see the stadium spring up. You never get used to that feeling.”
“I came back for this,” continued the attacker, who returned to PSV earlier this summer after three years. “Barcelona Nou Camp is beautiful, but this is my home.”
PSV took the lead after more than twenty minutes via Joey Veerman. Monaco then turned the deficit through Guillermo Maripán and Wissam Ben Yedder and the home team had to fear elimination. In the final phase, substitute Érick Gutiérrez saved his team, after which De Jong scored the winning goal in the 109th minute.
PSV celebrate Luuk de Jong’s winning goal.
PSV celebrate Luuk de Jong’s winning goal. Photo: Getty Images
‘Everyone was a bit on’
According to De Jong, fatigue struck in extra time. “Everyone was a bit exhausted. I also had a cramp in my hamstrings at the end and couldn’t jump anymore. We tried to find the sides and bring the ball in through the far post. Then I was asked to get me closer to the to look for the second post and then the goal fell.”
“Monaco is a very good team. They are physically strong, have quality and are technically agile. So that makes it even better of us that we don’t give up and score the winner.”
PSV will play in the play-offs against the Rangers of trainer Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The people of Eindhoven will first visit the Scots on August 16 or 17, after which the return in the Philips Stadium follows a week later. The winner of the diptych qualifies for the group stage of the Champions League.