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PSV may have taken a major step towards reaching the UEFA Cup semi finals, following a 1-1 draw in an action-packed game at Fiorentina in Florence on Thursday night. Danny Koevermans scored the precious away goal.
Both teams had chances to open the scoring in an evenly-contested first half. PSV seemed to lack confidence during the initial stages, but bravely fought themselves back into the game. After the break the game sparked into life. PSV were trailing 1-0 when Mutu scored a lucky goal. Gomes was forced to be substituted after he had sustained an apparently serious injury, but Danny Koevermans leveled things for PSV in the 63rd minute, scoring a precious away goal and opening his European scoring account for PSV. Sef Vergoossen´s team held out in the eight minutes of added time. PSV fly back to Eindhoven on Friday morning, feeling relieved that they have grabbed a 1-1 draw in Florence. The return leg takes place at the Philips Stadium on Thursday night. Farfán will miss the game after he collected a late yellow card.
PSV had the same game plan that turned out to be successful at Tottenham Hotspur, with Méndez and Culina strenghening midfield and Afellay operating from the left flank. Koevermans partnered Farfán up front. PSV had the first meaningful chance when Koevermans headed on target and the ball fell to Farfán in the rebound. Both teams played high tempo football. PSV were well-organised and attempted to find space behind the Fiorentina backline. PSV were scrappy in the next fifteen minutes and were often dispossessed, but Fiorentina could not capitilise. Gomes produced a wonderful save when captain Ujfalusi fired on target on the half-hour mark. It was an evenly contested game, but PSV were lucky when Pazzini sent a header over the goal. PSV were forced to defend deeply during the final fifteen minutes of the first half and found it hard to move forward. Five minutes from the break, though, Culina superbly set up Koevermans, whose shot was off target.
After the break, Afellay started a dangerous counter attack for PSV, while Koevermans and Culina also had chances to score the opening goal. The deadlock was broken at the other end, when the PSV defence failed to deal with a long ball from Fiorentina keeper Frey, and his colleague Gomes hastily left his goalmouth. He did clear the ball, but put it straight to Mutu, who somehow scored a freak goal; 1-0. Worse was to come, though: Gomes sustained an injury when kicking the ball and Bas Roorda left the bench to replace him, making his first appearance in an official match in PSV colours. Every cloud has a silver lining, for barely two minutes later PSV were back on level terms. Afellay turned provider for Koevermans, who unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, leaving Frey was no chance. The travelling fans in the Stadio Artemio Franchi made their presence felt, while Fiorentina surged forward in search of the winning goal. PSV were well organised and kept their composure in the hectic closing stages in the arena in Florence, holding on for a precious share of the points in the final thirty minutes. Farfán comitted a clumsy foul and was booked, but at the end of the day PSV were delighted having grabbed a draw.
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