PSV show character in Porto and win for the first time in the Champions League
PSV beat FC Porto 0-1 in the Champions League group stage on Tuesday, their first win in the league phase after a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk and a 1-0 defeat to RB Leipzig. Guus Til struck after the break to win it for the Eindhoven side.
After six minutes, Ivan Perisic came close to making it 0-1, but the Croatian headed just over from Lutsharel Geertruida's delivery. At the other end, Oskar Pietuszewski hit the side-netting after a swift Porto counter-attack. The Polish winger then shot wide from a promising position.
Til curled the ball just past the right-hand post as the lively start continued. PSV showed no fear of Francesco Farioli's side, pressing high to win the ball back quickly. Porto struggled with the visitors' approach.
Almost half an hour in, referee Daniel Siebert gave no penalty when Pietuszewski went down easily following contact with Til. PSV kept attacking, only for Mauro Júnior to shoot over from just outside the penalty area.
Filip Kostic looked set to make it 0-1 shortly before half-time after Alberto Costa carelessly gave the ball away, but the left-back fired wide. Dest also tried his luck, yet PSV could not take the lead in the first 45 minutes.
After the break, Porto pressed harder and made it more difficult for PSV to build attacks. Bosz's side had to defend more and take fewer risks going forward. Even so, Esmir Bajraktarevic rattled the post with a thunderous shot as PSV went close to making it 0-1. The ball reached Til at the far post via Bajraktarevic and Mijnans shortly afterwards, and he tapped in for 0-1.
PSV grew in confidence, but Diogo Costa denied Mijnans from a promising position. In the 68th minute, a deflected shot from Dest flew just over the bar. At the other end, Kovár kept PSV in front with a fine save before Geertruida cleared a Victor Froholdt effort off the line. Dest then stopped Porto from making it 1-1.
Holding firm in the closing stages, the Eindhoven side secured an impressive European win. Club Brugge are next on 4 November, before a blockbuster clash against Real Madrid on 24 November.
