PSV got off to a winning start in the Europa League group stages with a 1-0 win over Portuguese side Estoril in Eindhoven.
- By Michael Bell
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Phillip Cocu’s side immediately took the initiative and should have been ahead in the first five minutes when Luciano Narsingh was played through on goal but the winger could only fire into the side netting.
Adam Maher fired just over the bar and Joshua Brenet dragged a shot wide before PSV were awarded a penalty in the 26th minute. Maher was brought down in the box and Luuk de Jong scored his third goal of the competition from the spot to put the home side 1-0 up.
It should have been 2-0 shortly after as Jeffrey Bruma headed a corner against the post and although Georginio Wijnaldum slotted in the rebound it was wrongly ruled out for offside.
PSV dropped their tempo in the second half and the Portuguese visitors were allowed to create some chances to equalise, but the home side stood firm at the back to hold onto the win.
The win ends a run of 11 straight games were a Dutch side has failed to beat a club from Portugal, and gives the Eredivisie leaders a perfect start to the group stages. In the other group games, Russian side Dinamo Moscow beat Panathinaikos 2-1 in Greece.
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