|
|
|
|
Dzsudzsak snatches draw for PSV |
|
A last-gasp equaliser from Balazs Dzsudzsak secured a point for PSV in a 1-1 draw against Sampdoria in their Europa League Group I opener at Philips Stadion.
Fabrizio Cacciatore's header had given the visitors the lead but Dzsudzsak's low shot from the edge of the area finally ended Gianluca Curci's resistance in the Sampdoria goal.
Cacciatore had risen highest to head home from Daniele Mannini's cross before the Serie A side were forced to defend desperately as their Dutch opponents sought an equaliser, with Dzsudzsak eventually earning them a deserved point.
PSV had started the better of the two sides as Swedish striker Ola Toivonen threatened with an effort from distance and midfielder Orlando Engelaar forced Gianluca Curci into a scrambling save as he drilled fierce shot goalwards.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 25th minute. Mannini received the ball wide out on the left and his whipped cross saw Cacciatore beat off the attentions of a defender to nod the ball home from close range.
The goal stunned the hosts and it took them time to settle down again, although Dzsudzsak shot narrowly wide with a speculative effort from outside the box.
But the Eredivisie outfit were soon creating clearer chances and Ibrahim Afellay really should have done better when played in in first-half stoppage time, but Franco Semioli got back to make the block.
Curci then made a fantastic save with his feet to keep out a Marcus Berg header in the 53rd minute and Wilfred Bouma then headed wide.
Curci kept out a powerful Afellay effort and then tipped a Jermaine Lens shot round the post - and when the goalkeeper was beaten by another Afellay shot the woodwork came to his rescue as the shot crashed away off the post.
Dzsudzsak was another man to test Curci, but again the keeper was equal to his curling effort, parrying it to safety.
However, the onslaught finally yielded a reward in the 89th minute when Hungary international Dzsudzsak shot into the bottom corner of the net to spark wild celebrations among the home support.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|