PSV Eindhoven’s participation in the Europa league is hanging by a thread after a 1-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg at the Philips Stadion.
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The Eredivisie leaders went into the game in top form, having won their last ten matches in a row, and PSV started the game confidently with Nicolas Isimat Marin seeing a header tipped over the bar, while Jetro Willems fired wide after a great ball by Andres Guardado.
After half an hour PSV were presented with a huge chance to open the scoring after Memphis Depay was played through on goal, but instead of taking a shot, the winger tried to pass to Luciano Narsingh, but Igor Smolnikov intercepted. Early in the second half Depay once again came close with a cross/shot which ran across goal, before being taken away from the sliding Narsingh.
PSV had the greater chances, but just after the hour mark Zenit st Petersburg hit them with a sucker-punch. Oscar Hiljemark was caught on the ball by Alex Witsel, who played in Danny on the left wing, and after the PSV defence stood off the winger, he sent a cross in for Hulk to sweep into the net.
The home side pushed for an equaliser, but they found a well organised Zenit defence in their way, and after Jurgen Locadia failed to meet Depay’s knock down the game whittled out. Its the third time in the Europa league this season that PSV have lost 1-0 to a Russian side, and if they are to progress in the competition they will need to put in a huge performance next week in Russia.
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shame Maher didn’t start was he not injured