PSV off the mark with win over Marseille
Reuters - Wednesday 22 October 2008, 21:41
EINDHOVEN - Danny Koevermans struck twice after the break to earn PSV Eindhoven a 2-0 home victory over Olympique Marseille in a Champions League Group D match on Wednesday.
The win gave PSV their first points of the campaign after Stijn Wuytens had gone close in the first half.
After the break PSV completely overwhelmed their opponents and should have settled the match within five minutes with Ibrahim Afellay and Wuytens both missing from close range.
With 19 minutes remaining Koevermans broke the deadlock when he headed home a corner kick and five minutes before time Edison Mendes set up the striker for his second goal. PSV move to three points while Marseille are yet to register a point.
"We played with passion today, very disciplined and enough patience to wait for the chances to come," PSV coach Huub Stevens told reporters.
"We created enough chances and could have scored more but 2-0 is a good result.
"It logical that Saturday's defeat (2-1 at NAC Breda) created unrest in the squad but after a match like this confidence will be back."
Marseille had their chances to score in the opening 45 minutes but Mamadou Niang headed a corner straight at Andreas Isaksson, who also denied Hatem Ben Arfa.
"I was amazed the way we started the second half," Marseille coach Erik Gerets said. "After the goal we totally collapsed and finally I was glad the match was over."
"We played against a tactically well organized opponent, who closed down the centre of defence but left us some possibilities on the flanks, but I simply can't explain why we played so poorly the second half."
LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS