PSV is released in Glasgow with a fright after gigantic Benítez


Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 10:49 PM• Wessel Antes • Last update: 23:08

PSV managed to take a good starting position to Eindhoven for the return on Tuesday evening with a 2-2 in Glasgow. The Eindhoven team took the lead before half-time thanks to a goal from Ibrahim Sangaré, after which Antonio Colak drew the score. In the seventieth minute Walter Benítez made a huge mistake on a free kick by Tom Lawrence. Fortunately for PSV, Armando Obispo was able to equalize eight minutes later, so that the team from Brabant will not start the home game with a deficit next week.

At Ibrox, Ruud van Nistelrooij chose André Ramalho and Érick Gutiérrez as starters for the first time in this European campaign, at the expense of Phillipp Mwene and Guus Til. By fitting in Ramalho, Jordan Teze started as right-back. Giovanni van Bronckhorst started his Rangers mainly with extra experience, by preferring Borna Barisic in left back position over Ridvan Yilmaz. In midfield, Steven Davis started where Scott Arfield was expected, while top striker Alfredo Morelos was not yet found fit enough to play ninety minutes.

Although a stormy start for the Rangers was predicted in advance, PSV encountered few problems. In fact, Luuk de Jong could have put the Eindhoven team ahead in the third minute, when he just got the ball on his slipper after a sharp cross from Joey Veerman. His effort from close range, however, flew just over keeper Jon McLaughlin’s goal. It was only after more than twenty minutes that PSV keeper Benítez had to intervene on a roller from Malik Tillman. The first chance for Rangers was an immediate start for a better phase for the Scots.

PSV therefore had some trouble getting out of the pressure, but managed to help themselves by suddenly scoring in the 37th minute. After a corner by Cody Gakpo, the ball suddenly got stuck in the box, after which Teze managed to get it at Sangaré. The Ivorian didn’t think twice and shot the ball with his weaker left, through a pair of Rangers defenders, past McLaughlin. Unfortunately, Van Nistelrooij’s team could not enjoy the lead for long. James Tavernier was beautifully launched by Davis in the fortieth minute, after which he managed to deliver the ball precisely from the right to Colak, who managed to outwit Benítez while falling.

After the break, both teams came out of the locker room a lot brighter, forcing referee Daniele Orsato to grab his yellow cards for the first time. First he threw Armando Obispo on the ticket for taking down Colak, after which De Jong also received a card for a sum of violations. On the Rangers side, Connor Goldson was booked for catching Gakpo. In this phase of the match PSV got the better chances through Ismael Saibari. After firing first both wide and over, his third attempt missed conviction allowing McLaughlin to save quite easily. In the 69th minute, the Spanish-born winger had to take a yellow card to hijack a counter from Rangers.

An extremely painful moment for Benítez followed from the free kick that Rangers received. The Argentine goalkeeper let a mediocre free kick from Lawrence slip out of his hands, after which the ball rolled over the goal line in a silly way. Fortunately for the goalkeeper, Obispo was able to equalize eight minutes later. From a corner from Gakpo, Obispo nodded the ball hard against the ropes. As a result, the Eindhoven residents were still able to take the minimum desired result back to the Netherlands. The return awaits next Wednesday at 9 p.m. in the Philips Stadium.