1 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Da Costa’s PSV stroll to qualification

PSV 2-0 Galatasaray

PSV booked their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League after a 2-0 win over 10-man Galatasaray at the Phillips Stadium. Second half goals from Timmy Simons and Arouna Kone were enough for Ronald Koeman’s men, who join group leaders Liverpool on 13 points.

Portuguese left-back Manuel da Costa started for the fourth consecutive match, and played the full 90 minutes as the Dutch champions recorded their sixth straight win in all competitions.

The Turkish champions had the better of the play in the first period, but suffered a blow as they were reduced to ten men towards the end of the half. Last man Stjepan Tomas wrestled Jefferson Farfan to the ground, and referee Martin Hansson had no choice but to dismiss the Croatian defender.

PSV improved after the break, and broke the deadlock through Belgian midfielder Simons. Gala goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon failed to push Philip Cocu’s header out of the danger area, and Simons was left with the simplest of tasks, heading into an empty net from one metre out.

Ivorian striker Kone sealed matters in the 85th minute, shrugging off the attentions of Junichi Inamoto before rounding Mondragon and firing into the bottom corner.

Following the final whistle, PSV manager Ronald Koeman said: “It was a very nice evening and we are very proud of everybody - the players, the fans.”

“It wasn’t easy especially in the first half because we lost the ball too much. Galatasaray played well in the first half until the red card and their strikers Umit Karan and Sasa Ilic were consistently a threat.”

“We played the second half in a professional manner, and played the game out for victory. It is important that we have qualified but we still have to use our brains because we want to finish top.”

The result means that PSV now fight Liverpool for first place in the group. They travel to Anfield on matchday five, before hosting Bordeaux in the final group game.

PSV:
Gomes, Kromkamp (Culina, 46), Salcido, Alex, Da Costa, Cocu, Simons, Mendes, Affelay (Vayrynen, 76), Kone (Aissati, 86), Farfan
Yellow Cards: None

Galatasaray:
Mondragon, Song, Tomas, Ak, Sarioglu, Inamoto, Akman, Turan (Haspolatli, 66), Ilic (Ates, 70), Hasan Sas, Karan (Sukur, 79)
Yellow Cards: Turan (27), Haspolatli (73), Inamoto, (88)
Red Cards: Tomas (39)

Goals:
[0-1] Simons, 59
[0-2] Kone, 84