July 30 2003

PSV Action

PSV Eindhoven are winners of the Philips Cup beating Crystal Palace with a very early goal by Mark van Bommel.

The only goal of the game was scored in the second minute and came off the foot of the Dutch international. The PSV skipper chipped the ball over Palace 'keeper Matt Clarke.

Three minutes later, Clarke was on hand to deny another PSV goal when he tipped over a John de Jong free-kick. Clarke made another diving save minutes later.

A bulky Neil Shipperley went close with two headers but Andy Johnson should have levelled things up when put through by Dougie Freedmn with just the keeper to beat. Unfortunately for Palace, Wattereus saved Johnson's strike.

Then right on half-time, Tony Popovic had a "goal" ruled out for pushing as he bundled in Danny Butterfield's right side cross.

Kit Symons came on for Aki Riihilahti in the second half so Shaun Derry could back to his favoured midfield role and this had an immediate impact.

Derry went on a run down the right and picked out Johnson with a delightful ball and with AJ through on goal again, his effort was saved by the keeper.

Palace had chances to equalise near the end. Wayne Routledge, who was causing PSV problems all night, passed to Tommy Black whose far post cross went agonisingly wide as the onrushing Gareth Williams just missed out on vital touch to score.

Routledge was agrieved not to be given a penalty in the dying minutes when he was hacked down but the referee waved play on. All in all not a bad result for Crystal Palace against last season's Dutch champions.

Crystal Palace: Clarke, Butterfield, Popovic, Johnson, Freedman, Derry, Shipperly, Routledge, Powell, Hughes.

Subs all used: Berthelin, Symons, Watson, Black, Borrowdale, Williams.

PSV Eindhoven: Waterreus, Oyer, Lee, Van Bommel, Kezman, Robben, Van der Schaaf, Lucius, De Jong, Hofland, Bogelund.

Subs: Van Dijk, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Hoogstrate, Wuytens, Jakobsen, Stojanovic, Takak, Guijo-Velasco, Janssen.