U21 Report: Saints 1-3 PSV
Southampton Under-21s were beaten 3-1 by PSV Eindhoven in the Premier League International Cup on Thursday evening.
PSV were 1-0 up at half-time thanks to a Robin van Duiven penalty, and a second goal arrived shortly after the break from Sol Sidibé.
Striker van Duiven netted another penalty on 70 minutes to confirm his side’s victory, but Saints ended the game well and reduced their full-time deficit when Romeo Akachukwu scored late on.
After a tight opening spell in the game, Saints had the game’s first shot when Moses Sesay took aim with a free-kick from range but saw his effort fly over the crossbar.
However, PSV broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when van Duiven converted a penalty, which awarded for a seemingly harsh handball in the Saints area by Sam Tabares.
Visiting striker van Duiven went close to doubling his side’s lead shortly after the half hour mark when he struck a fierce free-kick towards the bottom corner, but Saints goalkeeper George Long got across well to tip wide.
A big chance then fell the way of Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, on his first outing since returning from loan, as Saints went close to an equaliser.
The Saints striker showed pace and strength to get to the ball first and then push past a PSV challenge, but his shot to end an impressive piece of play flew across goal and the wrong side of the post.
Substitute Romeo Akachukwu came on to score a late consolation. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)
Barnaby Williams also had an opportunity before the end of the first half when a poor touch from a PSV defender fell nicely to him in the penalty area, but he could only fire over the bar.
Into the second half, PSV wasted a huge chance to make it two within a minute of the restart when Jairo Beerens was given a free shot at goal but he could only drag wide.
The away side did manage to score for a second time in the 53rd minute though, when Sidibé received the ball inside the Saints box and fired home low into the bottom corner of the net.
Saints searched for a quick response and almost found it when Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh advanced to the edge of the PSV box and curled a shot that flew narrowly over, whilst leaving goalkeeper Khadim Ngom as a spectator.
The visitors to the Silverlake Stadium soon wrapped up their win though, as their third goal came courtesy of a second van Duiven penalty, with the striker calmly converting from 12 yards once again.
Saints’ spirit remained until the final whistle and, after seeing some promising attacks come to nothing, they did get a goal back when substitute Akachukwu intercepted a pass from Ngom in the PSV goal and stroked home into an empty net.
Saints are next in action on Monday 26th January when they host West Bromwich Albion in Premier League 2, with kick off at the Silverlake Stadium set for 7pm.
Saints: Long, Tabares (Adjei-Afriyie 45'), Kayi Sanda, Moore, Sesay, Romeu (Akachukwu 62'), O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Williams (Daley 71'), Merry, Charles (Sillah Dibaga 45'), Ehibhatiomhan (Oyekunle 62').
Unused subs: Abbotson, Dobson-Ventura.
Goals: Akachukwu (82').
PSV: Ngom, Waayers (Bassey 78'), Raap, Monamay, van de Riet, Sidibé (Bouhamdi 66'), Beerens (Kluit 78'), Mulders, van Duiven, Holseter-Karlsen (Bahaty 73'), Jones (van der Plas 73').
Unused subs: Kuhm.
Goals: van Duiven (18' pen, 70' pen), Sidibé (53').
Yellow cards: Monamay
