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PSV have won the Russian Railways Cup after they beat reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid 2-1 in the final in Moscow on Sunday night. Ismail Aissati and Mike Zonneveld scored the two Eindhoven goals in the first half. After the break Real put more pressure on PSV, but the determined Eindhoven defence fought bravely throughout and held on for victory.
PSV head coach Ronald Koeman fielded a young team, with six players, Afellay, Aissati, Bakkal, Jonathan, Da Costa and Alcides, in their twenties, while the average age of the first-team squad is about 23. Yet PSV made most impact in the first half and Ronald Koeman's team created five chances in the first period, converting two of them. Aissati showed his true class with a superb opening goal. The midfielder created some space before rifling in a thunderbolt of a 30-yard shot that gave goalkeeper Dudek absolutely no chance. On the stroke of half time PSV earned a free kick and Zonneveld struck it sweetly past the hapless Real Madrid's stopper. Koeman must have taken a great many positives from the first half: a 2-0 lead at half time, the best display of football of the pre-season campaign and many youngsters, such as Aissati, Simons, Jonathan and Bakkal putting in a terrific display. Real, who fielded Raul, Saviola and Higuain, among other players, threatened twice, but PSV, who had a young look about them, put in a convincing display.
After the break Real upped a gear and with players such as Robinho (the star player at the Copa América), Guti, Pepe, who joined Real Madrid from FC Porto for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of € 30, 000,000, and Baptista and Diarra, PSV were no longer the dominating side and conceded a goal on the hour mark. Saviola, who made a move to Madrid from FC Barcelona this summer, reduced the deficit from a cleverly taken free kick. Soon afterwards PSV survived a scare when Guti rattled the bar. Koeman brought on Jason Culina for Afellay in a bid to strengthen his midfield physically and thwart Real's attacking ideas. Real took most initiatives and Lazovic was looking isolated up front.
Gomes once again made his mark in the closing stages and put his team in the game, pulling off a string of fine saves. Van der Leegte and De Jong were brought on to replace Bakkal and Aissati and the substitutions paid off well, as PSV won the final of the prestigious tournament, putting the crown on a wonderful stay in Russia. The squad will train on Monday morning in Moscow, before the players, coaching staff and officials fly back home in the afternoon, and they will take the Cup with them!!.
Match details:
Venue: Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow
Attendance: 25, 000
Goals: (33) Aissati 0-1; (45) Zonneveld 0-2; (58) Saviola 1-2;
PSV line-up:
Gomes, Alcides, Da Costa, Salcido, Zonneveld, Simons, Afellay (60. Culina), Mendez, Aissati (84. Van der Leegte), Bakkal (84. De Jong), Jonathan (65. Lazovic).
