Review day 2: group-stage decisions
After yesterday’s first group-stage matches, today the remaining matches were played. All teams were to play two matches. This hot and sunny day, drew a lot of spectators to the Herdgang.
The kick-off in group A was at 11 O'clock. Pão de Açúcar and FC Twente/Heracles equalled each other. Without scoring they drew 0-0, despite of several chanches for both teams. Tottenham Hotspur took a good step towards the semi's by beating SC Heerenveen 1-0. Early on in the match, the Britons took the lead and they held on to that lead. These results gave the group an exciting last round of matches. All teams could still qualify for the semi-finals.
Group B teams were the next on the pitch. Yesterday group A scored a lot of goals, today it was group B. Real Madrid beat Anderlecht 3-1. The Spaniards took the lead, before Anderlecht could equalize. With another two goals, Real Madrid managed to pull off the victory and was the first team to qualify for the next round. The other match-up between hosts PSV and Sparta ended with the same result. A Youness Mokthar free kick gave PSV the lead and a late first half penalty-kick resulted in the equaliser for Sparta. Gianluca Maria and Imad Najah goals brought the hosts their first three points of the tournament. Because of this result Sparta was already out for the semi-finals. PSV could settle for a draw in their final match against Real Madrid to reach the next stage.
Time for the final decisions in group A. FC Twente/Heracles qualified for the next round, by beating the countrymen of Heerenveen 4-2. The Frysians took the lead early on, but FC Twente/Heracles managed to turn the game around in the first half. Three goals gave the team a 3-1 lead, extending that lead shortly after the break. This was the final blow for Heerenveen. They did score another goal, but that was not enough. In the other match Pão de Açúcar needed a win against Spurs to reach the semi's. In an even match one goal proved to be the decider. A second half beautiful Brazilian strike gave Pão de Açúcar a place in the next round. Although Spurs gave their best and even created a few chances, they unfortunately were out of the title race, finishing the group in third place behind FC Twente/Heracles and Pão de Açúcar. Spurs will play in the fifth place play-off match tomorrow and Heerenveen will, just like last year, play in the 7th place play-off match.
The remaining matches in group B, were the final ones for today. Despite Real Madrid having secured a place in the next round, they still wanted a win against the hosts PSV. The Spanish side took the lead 10 minutes into the match, through an easy finish by Ignacio Boto. Only five minutes later PSV equalised via a undisputed penalty-kick by Maikel Verkoelen, who was the victim and scorer. A second half foul in the box, was heavily debated by the spaniards, as the referee didn't see the foul. In stead of giving a penalty-kick Pablo Sarabia got his second yellow card for diving, and his second red card of the Otten Cup. This meant a hectic last quarter of an hour. PSV's Zakaria Labyad found an opening in the Spanish defence and curled in the game winner. After a foul on a PSV player, the Spanish showed their southern european temper. A massive fight broke out between both sides. Real accusing the referee of not being impartial and PSV accusing the Spaniards of serious foul play. Only two yellow cards were shown when everything cleared. One for each side. For PSV's Peter van Ooijen this proved to be a expensive one, because his foul a few minutes later meant his sending off. With this hectic match ending in 2-1 for the hosts, the group was decided. PSV finished first and Real Madrid second. The other match between Sparta and Anderlecht ended in the same result in favour of the belgians. Anderlecht ended their group stage in third place, while Sparta lost all their matches and ended in last place.
Now that the groups are decided, tomorrow it's time for the finals. First and second placed teams from the respective groups will play for a place in the final. At 11 o'clock PSV will play Pão de Açúcar and FC Twente/Heracles will play Real Madrid. The winners will play in the final and the losers will play for third place. Almost one and a half hour later RSC Anderlecht and Tottenham Hotspur will play for fifth place and Heerenveen and Sparta will play for seventh place. The final takes place at three o'clock.
This message was published on Saturday 15 August 2009 at 21:36
