Dutch giants PSV were staying staring a second-consecutive UEFA Champions League defeat in the face, but used a late equalizer to steal one point away from La Liga side Sevilla on Tuesday night.
Malik Tillman drew one penalty kick in PSV’s 2-2 home draw with Sevilla at the Philips Stadion, logging 90 minutes on home soil. Fellow U.S. men’s national team teammate Sergino Dest also went the distance for Peter Bosz’s squad while Ricardo Pepi played the final eight minutes off the bench.
Sevilla’s opening goal came in the 68th minute through Nemanja Gudelj’s half-volley finish in the PSV box. Sergio Ramos headed Jesus Navas’ service back across the PSV box before Gudelj’s powerful shot nestled into the back of the net.
PSV fought back though to tie things up as Tillman was bundled over in the box by Ramos. Luuk De Jong’s spot kick made it 1-1 for PSV as the veteran striker stepped up and delivered for the hosts.
Sevilla didn’t need much time though to regain its advantage as Youssef En-Nesyri’s header off the ensuring restart propelled Jose Luis Mendilibar’s squad back in front 2-1.
However, PSV right back Jordan Teze came to the rescue in the 95th minute as he slotted home from close-range. Sevilla failed to clear its line off a corner kick and Teze pounded on the loose ball in the box.
Tillman drew a match-high three fouls while also winning four duels and making one interception. Dest created one offensive opportunity, won four duels, and completed 94% of his passes.
Pepi completed all three of his passes in the match, including one to Tillman prior to the penalty ruling.
PSV resumes Eredivisie action on Sunday at Sparta Rotterdam in its final league match before the October international break.
The only blemish was he got out-muscled by Ramos whose header was the assist on Sevilla’s 2nd goal.
Overall he played really well. Doesn’t look out of place as the starter for PSV. But he does need to control throwing up his arms in frustration towards his own teammates.
This is pretty much why I refer to the 10 spot as the “diva shitbag” position on my teams. It’s like being a wide receiver in football, it just seems to go with the position. If a forward’s biggest mental challenge is to remain positive and predatory and perpetually ready to pounce on any scrap, a 10’s biggest is usually to be willing to do the dirty defensive work and remain patient with those who do not have their vision or skill on the ball…because if they did, that guy would be the 10. (Gio’s another obvious example of a guy trying to learn this.)
That’s probably Messi’s best attribute. Even more than his amazing skill, the thing you see out of him is you rarely see him express frustration towards his teammates on the field (and if he does, you messed up large), and he remains a patient conductor who creates for others even more than himself. It never seems to be about his own glory.
You can’t play the 10 well without supreme confidence, but supreme confidence can turn into ego real quick too.
After excelling over the weekend, Tillman gets the UCL start and impresses again. Not MOTM quality, but showed he belonged on the pitch. PSV was the right place to land after Rangers, as with Pepi and Dest. You’d have to think he has earned a callup for October.
Yeah I think he’s now an entrenched call up for the NT….his obvious talent, consistent productive minutes with the Eredivisie’s best team, and having a skillset not at a premium in our pool would dictate that