Dutch revel in Feyenoord, PSV Champions League comeback heroics
After five of eight group games, Feyenoord (seven points) and PSV (eight) are inside the top 24 in the new-look 36-team standings.
Dutch football was revelling in two remarkable Champions League comebacks this week that put Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven on course for the latter stages of Europe's elite competition.
Feyenoord came back from 3-0 down with 16 minutes left at Manchester City on Tuesday to grab a point from a 3-3 draw, taking advantage of a sudden slump by the English champions.
PSV went one better on Wednesday, trailing 2-0 at home to 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk before Malik Tillmam scored twice in the last three minutes of regular time and United States striker Ricardo Pepi squeezed in an added-time winner to make it 3-2.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
PSV coach Peter Bosz would have been satisfied with a draw to preserve their two-year unbeaten run at the Philips Stadion.
"But that you ultimately win is bizarre," he added. "We started the match dramatically straight from the kick-off."
PSV were two goals behind at halftime but Shakhtar left back Pedro Henrique's dismissal for a dangerous challenge after 69 minutes gave PSV the impetus to pile on the pressure.
"The second half was better, I thought we were more aggressive, won more duels ... Only the goal wouldn't come and it became more and more difficult. Until that red card.
"If I'm completely honest, I don't think we would have won with 11 against 11," added Bosz.
FEYENOORD HISTORY
Feyenoord made history the night before as no club in the Champions League had ever managed to come back from a deficit of at least three goals after 70 minutes, let alone 75.
"I thought: 'This is going to be a long evening'," said Feyenoord coach Brian Priske
"I didn't do much tactically to change things to be honest, it was the boys who changed the picture of the game. They did the hard work, they kept believing and pushing and that's the most important thing that you have players on the pitch who take responsibility."
After five of eight group games, Feyenoord (seven points) and PSV (eight) are inside the top 24 in the new-look 36-team standings.
Teams will likely need 14 to 16 points to finish in the top eight and qualify for the last 16 and nine to 10 points to reach the playoffs.
Feyenoord will have high hopes of advancing as they have a home match against Sparta Prague next on Dec. 11 before welcoming Bayern Munich and visiting Lille in January.
PSV will also be confident of progress as they travel to Brest in France next on Dec. 10 before visiting struggling Red Star Belgrade. Their last group game is at home to current Champions League leaders Liverpool in late January.
