SPORTS

PSV romp into quarter-finals

March 10, 2005

Champions League pre-quarter-finals

PSV Eindhoven cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday with a solid 2-0 victory in Monaco.

Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed the Dutch league leaders in front from Mark van Bommel's corner after 27 minutes and substitute DaMarcus Beasley wrapped up a 3-0 aggregate win from close range with 20 minutes remaining.

Monaco, beaten by Porto in last year's final, tried to respond through lively Uruguayan Ernest Chevanton, but the principlaity side were largely subdued against Guus Hiddink's well-organised outfit.

Their bad night was complete when after 76 minutes when defender Gael Givet was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on PSV's Peruvian striker Jefferson Farfan.

"They (Eindhoven) had one chance on a dead ball situation and they converted it," said Monaco coach Didier Deschamps. "We had many opportunities but we squandered all of them.

"If we had scored before the interval it would have been a totally different match. After they went 1-0 up it was almost impossible."

Monaco, who finished the match with four strikers on the pitch after Emmanuel Adebayor came on for midfielder Jaroslav Plasil, suffered their first home defeat in the Champions League since losing 1-0 to Rangers in September 2000.

"Over the two legs, PSV proved they were a better side than us," Deschamps said. "They are a strong and solid team."

Monaco, 11 points adrift of Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyon, now have only the French Cup to keep their hunt for a trophy this season alive.

Source: REUTERS
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