Panathinaikos 2 : 3 PSV Eindhoven - PSV battle to victory

Posted Friday, November 07, 2014 by PA

PSV Eindhoven put themselves in a good position to qualify from Europa League Group E with a battling 3-2 win away at Panathinaikos.

Phillip Cocu's men trailed twice in Greece thanks to goals from Abdul Ajagun and Mladen Petric but each time the visitors came back with Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum securing victory.

The result leaves PSV second in the pool behind already-qualified Dinamo Moscow and three points clear of Estoril with Panathinaikos bottom with just a single point.

Depay put a free-kick over the bar in the very first minute before De Jong and Petric both missed the target in a lively start.

Depay then forced Luke Steele to make a smart save with his feet but it was the home side who took the lead after 11 minutes.

Zeca made a run down the right and although Danijel Pranjic could not connect with it, Ajagun was on hand at the back post to rifle home from a tight angle.

De Jong's header from a free-kick brought another save from Steele and PSV had their equaliser just before the half-hour.

Wijnaldum and Depay cut open the Greek defence and when the latter found himself one-on-one with Steele he made no mistake.

The Dutch side began to apply some real pressure with Luciano Narsingh and Jetro Willems missing the target but it was Panathinaikos who took the lead against the run of play two minutes before the break.

Nikolaos Karelis headed the ball into the path of Petric and the Croatia international volleyed home from 12 yards.

Petric sent a shot over the bar as Yannis Anastasiou's men tried to extend their advantage but it was PSV who were to get the next goal when Willems burst down the left and crossed for De Jong to supply a low, hard finish.

Ajagun brought a save from Jeroen Zoet as the home side quickly tried to re-establish their lead and Karelis saw a shot saved but once again it was the team on the back foot who took the lead as PSV turned the game on its head 12 minutes from time.

Willems was again the man to supply the cross, this time from a corner, and Wijnaldum headed home.

The home side attempted to apply some pressure in the closing stages but it was PSV who had the better chances as they held on for victory.