PSV has played many memorable matches in its club history. One such was in the 2015-2016 season, when the club managed to qualify for the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League. In a group with CSKA Moscow, VfL Wolfsburg and superpower Manchester United, the final round of play was a crucial one. A look back at a special night in a swirling Philips Stadium.
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, will be remembered by many PSV fans. The club had the chance to winter in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in nine years. If PSV scored a victory against Russia's CSKA Moscow, wintering in the prestigious tournament seemed almost impossible to miss. The team, at the time with Phillip Cocu at the helm, also depended on the duel between VfL Wolfsburg and Manchester United. Both teams were respectively two and one point(s) above PSV in the pool. With a loss, it would be all over for PSV in Europe.
Specs
In the first half, Cocu's formation had the upper hand with chances for Jürgen Locadia and Luuk de Jong. They saw their goal attempts parried by experienced CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Jeffrey Bruma also failed to score after a header chance. Occasionally the Russian opponents came in front of Jeroen Zoet's goal, but he kept PSV on their toes. Including a fine save on a free kick by Zoran Tosic, he kept his club in the match.
CSKA in the lead
Also in the second half, PSV maintained the ascendancy and it was again Jeffrey Bruma who was close to the opening goal. He shot a free kick just over Akinfeev's goal. Meanwhile, VfL Wolfsburg was ahead against English Manchester United, so a draw by PSV would be enough for qualification. Still, the main force had to stay sharp, because a setback would virtually drop them to last place in the group.
CSKA Moscow, meanwhile, was knocking on the door of the PSV defense more and more emphatically. After sixty minutes, striker Ahmed Musa shot just wide of Jeroen Zoet's goal. The match ignited fifteen minutes before time, when a foul was committed on CSKA Moscow in the PSV penalty area and the Spanish referee whistled for a penalty. This was coolly scored by Sergei Ignashevich.
Discharge
PSV then had to go in pursuit, and with success. Two minutes after the opening goal, Luuk de Jong got the ball at his feet from close range and scored the liberating 1-1. A glance at the score at VfL Wolfsburg - Manchester United showed that 'The Red Devils' also equalized, so PSV had to look for a second goal.
In minute 85, PSV went from elimination to ecstasy. At the same moment that VfL Wolfsburg regained the lead, it was midfielder Davy Pröpper who made it 2-1 with a dry blast. After the final signal of referee David Fernandez Borbalan, the players and supporters went wild: PSV qualified for the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Lineup: Zoet; Brenet, Isimat-Mirin, Bruma, Moreno; Pröpper, Hendrix, Guardado; Pereiro (85' Bergwijn), De Jong, Locadia.
