Group K Europa League Round-Up: PSV Stay Top As Sparta Prague Close The Gap
A draw was enough for PSV in Denmark to keep them top of Group K, but Sparta Prague have emerged as the team most likely to join them in qualifying after snatching a late win in Romania against Cluj.
Nov 5, 2009 10:48:06 PM
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PSV were obliged to come from a goal down to continue their unbeaten run in the group going after former Ajax and Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer opened the scoring in the first half from the penalty spot.
However, Hungarian international Balazs Dzsudzsak levelled the score in the second half with just under 20 minutes left to play to make it 1-1 and earn his side a share of the spoils.
The stalemate in Denmark is sufficient for PSV to keep their lead at the top of the table, as they move to eight points. Stale Solbakken’s men move up to four points which keeps them in contention still in third place.
The other fixture in the group was a far more exciting affair with Sparta Prague snatching the three points at the death thanks to a late goal. Sparta have struggled for goals in the domestic league, but have found the route to goal easier in Europe and helped themselves to three goals in Romania.
The Czech outfit established a two goal lead before the quarter of an hour mark thanks to a brace from international forward Jan Holenda. Cluj got themselves sorted out and Ivorian striker Lacina Traore reduced the deficit before the break to make it 2-1 on 25 minutes.
Thus the score remained until injury time although Cluj were reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Bogdan Mara and Gabriel Muresan. However, Cluj managed to equalise with a minute of injury time played through substitute Sebastian Dubarier.
Sparta had other ideas and broke Cluj's resistance with a winner even deeper into injury time when Wilfied Bony struck to send the Czechs back home with all three points.
The win gives the Czechs a significant advantage in the group in second and puts them three points clear of FC Copenhagen. Cluj remains anchored to the bottom of the group on three points.
Walter Townsend, Goal.com
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