Atletico edges PSV in shootout

Atletico edges PSV in shootout

March 17, 2016
Atletico’s players celebrates as they win over PSV Eindhoven after a penalty shootout, during their Champions League second leg match against PSV Eindhoven in Madrid Tuesday. — AP
Atletico’s players celebrates as they win over PSV Eindhoven after a penalty shootout, during their Champions League second leg match against PSV Eindhoven in Madrid Tuesday. — AP

MADRID — Atletico Madrid celebrated like it had won the trophy after reaching the Champions League quarterfinals by edging past PSV Eindhoven 8-7 on penalties Tuesday following 210 goalless minutes in their last-16 tie.

Juanfran converted the winning spotkick at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, before ripping off his shirt and charging to celebrate wildly with the home fans after the two sides became the first to end a Champions League knockout match 0-0 on aggregate.

It took 16 kicks to finally produce a winner with Luciano Narsingh hitting the crossbar with PSV’s eighth effort before Juanfran coolly delivered for his side.

Atletico is into the last eight for third successive year, having also needed penalties to beat Bayer Leverkusen last season.

The Spanish side, runner-up in 2014, had home advantage in Tuesday’s second leg after drawing in the Netherlands but was kept in check by a disciplined defensive display from the Dutch champions.

Atletico should have gone ahead after 15 minutes when Koke set up Antoine Griezmann, but PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet blocked his low shot with a fine reflex save from 10 meters.

Zoet denied Griezmann again when he beat away the Atletico forward’s goal-bound header from point-blank range in a first half of few chances.

PSV looked for opportunities on the counter-attack and Luuk de Jong missed a chance for the Dutch champions just before the break.

PSV was more adventurous in the second half, however, and came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 58th minute when Jurgen Locadia’s shot from the left was pushed onto the post by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Atletico defender Filipe Luis then reacted quickly to prevent De Jong from scoring on the rebound.

In Manchester, Manchester City also kept a lifeless Dynamo Kiev in check to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time Tuesday with a 0-0 draw that came at an injury cost for Manuel Pellegrini’s men.

City captain Vincent Kompany limped off after five minutes with a muscle problem and fellow defender Nicolas Otamendi followed soon after as the host moved into the last eight with a 3-1 aggregate success that was entirely due to its first-leg victory.

There was little in terms of goalmouth action throughout the return leg at the Etihad Stadium, with City having the game’s best chance when Jesus Navas hit the post midway through the second half.

Pellegrini’s team only looked like conceding at the end when keeper Joe Hart saved well from Vitaliy Buyalskiy.

With City under no pressure to attack having secured a comfortable first-leg advantage, and Kiev seemingly impotent up front, the first half was played like a testimonial.

It took 58 minutes for the home side to make any sort of incision into the Kiev defense as Yaya Toure exchanged quick passes with Sergio Aguero before the Argentine striker flashed his shot wide from a tight angle.


March 17, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS