Corinthians vs. PSV Eindhoven, 2018 Florida Cup: Final Score 1-1 on Dramatic Equalizer by the Dutch Side

by Michael Citro. Reprinted with permission from themaneland.com. Original story can be accessed here.

Sam Lammers’ dramatic goal lifted PSV Eindhoven to a 1-1 draw late in stoppage time but he was the only shooter denied in the ensuing penalty shootout in the opening match of the 2018 Florida Cup at Orlando City Stadium. A good crowd was on hand to see the tournament opener, which saw the Brazilian champions claim two points by virtue of winning the penalty shootout, 5-4, after the draw.

Star attacking midfielder Rodriguinho had staked his side to a 1-0 lead in the first half and Corinthians substituted liberally to start the second half, allowing PSV to come at the Brazilian team in waves, only to be denied time after time by imperfect finishing or outstanding goalkeeping by second-half keeper Caíque França, who put on a clinic, especially in the final 15 minutes.

Corinthians lined up with Cassio in goal, a back line of (left to right) Juninho Capixaba, Pedro Henrique, Fabián Balbuena, and Fagner, a midfield of Rodriguinho, Gabriel, and Jádson, and an attacking line of Ángel Romero, Colin Kazim-Richards, and Clayson.

PSV countered with its own 4-3-3 lineup of Jeroen Zoet in goal, a back line of Santiago Arias, Daniel Schwaab, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, and Joshua Brenet, a midfield of Jorrit Hendrix, Marco Van Ginkel, and Gastón Pereiro, with an attacking line of Steven Bergwijn, Luuk De Jong, and Hirving Lozano.

The Dutch side was on the front foot early, getting the bulk of the chances in the game’s first 20 minutes but lacked quality in the final third, especially finishing and picking out runners on crosses into the box.

Hendrix nearly sent in De Jong alone on goal for PSV in the first minute but the play was just offside. At the eight-minute mark, it was De Jong sending a header well wide but PSV earned a corner and a header in a mass of traffic bounced toward Cassio who punched it clear of the goal to keep it scoreless. De Jong sent a header just a foot or so wide in the 18th minute as well.

A minute later, PSV had some good buildup as Pereiro sent Arias down the right flank. He found Lozano at the edge of the box, but the ensuing cross was cut out by the defense.

In the 23rd minute, Corinthians finally got a decent scoring chance and the Timão made the most of it. Juninho sent in a free kick from just left of the box following a foul on Arias. The ball fell perfectly onto the foot of Rodriguinho at the back post for an easy tap-in back past the goalkeeper Zoet. Corinthians had far fewer chances but led 1-0 after 24 minutes.

The goal opened the game up a bit with Lozano shooting wide for PSG at the 26-minute mark and a cross by Fagner caught by Zoet a minute later. Kazim was nearly in alone in the 29th minute after taking an aerial cross down but he stumbled before he could get a shot off and the chance went wanting. A minute later, Arias cut out another dangerous Corinthians cross.

The teams went back and forth for the rest of the half but the next good opportunity came in the 37th minute when Lozano cut inside and fired on goal but Cassio made the save. Seven minutes later, it was PSV with another chance as streaking down the right side of the box went Berwijn but he completely got his shot wrong and it flew a good 20 feet yards of goal.

The Dutch side got the last opportunity of the half when Van Ginkel got his head onto a free kick cross but he didn’t get good contact on it and it was right at Cassio. The Brazilian club took its 1-0 lead into the break, despite being out-shot, 8-2 (4-2 on goal).

Corinthians changed the entire team at the break and it turned the match in PSV’s favor as the Dutch side’s attack kept coming.

Caique’s heroics began in the 52nd minute when he came off his line to barely get a fist to a cross before De Jong could get his head on it. He punched away another cross in the 59th. PSV won a number of set pieces — mostly corners — throughout the second period but couldn’t do much with them, as shots were blocked, crosses were cleared, and when all else failed, Caique was there to smother it.

In the 63rd minute, Caique made a diving fingertip save to deny Lozano’s well-struck shot from distance. PSV had shouts for penalties denied in both the 69th and 73rd minutes, as referee Jonathan Bilinski allowed physical play at both ends of the pitch. Lozano seemed to have a step and went down under contact from behind on the first and De Jong was knocked to the ground on an aerial ball in the second instance.

Pereiro got in down the left side in the 73rd minute but misfired his shot well off frame. A minute later, second-half sub Cody Gapko missed the net on a good scoring chance as PSV continued to be wasteful with its opportunities. Mauro Junior’s cross found a friendly head in the 79th minute but it was right at Caique, then Donyell Malen blasted a shot over the bar from a tight angle on the right just two minutes later.

Corinthians finally took the pressure off long enough to generate a rare second-half scoring chance in the 82nd minute, when Marquinhos Gabriel came down the right and fired a shot that was well saved by Zoet. That was about it for the Brazilians in regulation as PSV resumed its assault.

Gapko headed just wide in the 84th after Malen’s bicycle kick attempt rattled around in the box off a few players. Four minutes later, Caique made the save of the night on Mauro’s breakaway effort. Just as the game headed into three minutes of stoppage, an absurd sequence kept PSV off the board with Malen denied by Caique and the rebound was sent off the back of a sliding Corinthians defender and went out for a corner.

With just seconds remaining, another PSV corner finally led to the equalizer. Joshua Brenet sent a cross into the box that hit a few bodies, and ended up on the foot of Lammers, who slotted home on just about the last kick of regulation, tying the match at 1-1.

Florida Cup rules call for a penalty shootout following a draw, so the two teams lined up to find out which team got the extra point. In the end, Lammers went from savior to goat by being the only shooter not to score. PSV probably deserved the extra point but in the end the Dutch side will lament the many outstanding chances missed and shake their heads at the outstanding Corinthians goalkeeping. PSV out-shot Corinthians 19-3, with a dominating 11-1 advantage in the second half. It wasn’t enough to produce the goals needed to win the game.

Penalty Shootout (5-4, Corinthians)

PSV: Adam Maher scored into the left corner. 1-0.

Corinthians: Junior Dutra belted it into the upper left corner. 1-1.

PSV: Daniel Schwaab sent the keeper the wrong way and scores into the bottom left corner. 2-1.

Corinthians: Felipe Bastos sneaked it inside the left post after a stutter-step move. 2-2.

PSV: Lammers shot to his right but it was saved by Caique. 2-2.

Corinthians: Maycon scored into the left side. 3-2.

PSV: Arias scored down the middle. 3-3.

Corinthians: Camacho scored into the left side. 3-4.

PSV: Malen scored down the middle. 4-4.

Corinthians: Giovanni Augusto scored off the foot of Zoet, who guessed wrong but nearly made the save. 4-5.