PSV drew a draw against Rangers in the play-offs of the Champions League on Tuesday evening. In a sold-out Ibrox Park in Glasgow it was 2-2, a result that will make the Scots especially happy.
The stormy start of Rangers that had been predicted initially failed to materialize. The first chance was for PSV – after three minutes Luuk de Jong tapped the ball over the goal from close by from a cross by Veerman – and it took almost 20 minutes for the Scots to attempt a goal. Rangers then managed to increase the pressure a bit, but nice attacks and opportunities remained scarce. PSV easily stayed upright, occasionally broke out and made 1-0 from a corner after more than half an hour.
Goal scorer Ibrahim Sangaré screamed with joy. And understandable. Led by the inexperienced trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij and with newcomers such as Luuk de Jong, Xavi Simons and Guus Til, the team won the Johan Cruijff Scale (of Ajax), just like the first two competition matches. But it is the Champions League qualifying rounds that determine whether it will be a year to look forward to or face with fresh reluctance. For fans, players and for the treasurer. Last summer it still went wrong after two preliminaries, against Benfica.
This summer PSV has to survive one round less. But the first opponent, AS Monaco, was almost one too many. The French team created considerably more chances than PSV over two matches. It was thanks to luck, perseverance and Luuk de Jong’s top quality that the Eindhoven team triumphed.
Smooth combination game
Rangers, which narrowly defeated the Belgian Union Sint-Gillis in the previous preliminary round, is technically less than Monaco. But the Scottish team, led by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, compensates for that with fighting spirit. PSV also experienced that attacking midfielder Til had sacrificed for Erick Gutiérrez. The goal conceded seemed to give Rangers energy and barely three minutes later striker Antonio Colak scored the equalizer from a flowing attack – the first.
The second half started turbulently. That didn’t last long. PSV soon managed to neutralize Rangers’ drift with smooth combination play. That led to good opportunities, especially for young winger Ismael Saibari. But Rangers got up again, helped by a blunder from PSV goalkeeper Benítez. The Argentine keeper let an apparently harmless bouncing ball (Lawrence’s free kick) slip through his fingers.
PSV did not let themselves be fooled. The Eindhoven team continued to combine smoothly and made the deserved equalizer fifteen minutes before the end. Defender Obispo headed in hard from a header. PSV had a handful of chances – one from a splendid cross by Gutiérrez – but without success.
Next Wednesday is the return in Eindhoven. The Champions League is within reach for PSV.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of August 17, 2022