Legia Warsaw 0 – 3 PSV Eindhoven

Published on November 30, 2011 by mod1 · No Comments

PSV finish top after Warsaw win

PSV Eindhoven secured top spot in Group C of the Europa League as they strolled to a 3-0 victory at 10-man Legia Warsaw.

With both sides already having qualified for the last 32, this match was about the battle for first place and the Dutch side were given a helping hand by Michal Zewlakow’s own goal in the 32nd minute.

Legia goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak then saw red just before the hour mark and Dries Mertens converted from the penalty spot, before Zakaria Labyad rounded off the scoring in the 68th minute.

Jeremain Lens twice struck wide from the edge of the area in the opening 20 minutes, with Mertens also wayward for the Dutch side.

When Jakub Wawrzyniak fouled Kevin Strootman after 21 minutes PSV were handed another chance, but their set-piece ended with Labyad firing over the bar.

The Polish side started to come into it more and Miroslav Radovic was first to try his luck, shooting wide from 20 yards.

In the 24th minute Maciej Rybus was fouled by Jetro Willems, who earned a booking for his troubles. Rybus took the free-kick himself, sending the ball into the hands of Andreas Isaksson from 20 yards.

Ariel Borysiuk then cleared the bar with his strike from distance.

But just as it seemed the hosts were starting to take control, PSV took the lead.

It came in fortuitous fashion though as Stanislav Manolev’s cross took a wicked deflection off Zewlakow, over Kuciak and into the net.

Legia went in search of an equaliser at the start of the second period, Miroslav Radovic firing over and Rybus seeing his strike blocked by Timothy Derijck.

But the game was effectively over when Kuciak fouled Strootman in the box.

The goalkeeper was sent off and Mertens dispatched the penalty past Wojciech Skaba, who was hastily sent on in place of Danijel Ljuboja.

Artur Jedrzejczyk spurned a chance to pull one back in the 63rd minute when he diverted Rybus’ corner into the hands of Isaksson.

And PSV took immediate advantage as a neat move ended with Labyad playing a one-two Lens before finishing past Skaba.

Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com