PSV Eindhoven 3 - Deportivo La Coruña 2

PSV: Waterreus; Ooijer, Bouma, Boegelund, Lee; Vennegoor, De Jong, Park (Rommedahl 46'), Vogel, Robben; Kezman. 4-5-1.
Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, Andrade, Naybet, Capdevila; Duscher, Sergio (Luque 57'); Scaloni (César 84'), Valerón, Fran; Diego Tristán (Pandiani 63'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 14. De Jong. Swept ball in off post from Robben's square pass.
2-0. 48. Robben. Made himself space inside area and hit shot back across Molina.
2-1. 59. Luque. Struck low shot past keeper from 30 yards out after short free kick.
2-2. 83. Pandiani. Turned ball past Waterreus after Luque crossed in from left.
3-2. 94. De Jong. Scored on follow up after Vennegoor headed against bar.

Group C :
Monaco................... 11 points
Deportivo................ 10 points
PSV Eindhoven.... 10 points
AEK Athens.............. 2 points

Deportivo made it through to the first knockout stage of the competition, although it was harder work than they expected and for a few minutes they were out of the competition. The Galicians started the day three points above their opponents, which meant that a victory for PSV Eindhoven would mean that it went down to the head-to-head record as to whom would accompany Monaco to the next stage. With a a 2-0 win for Irureta's side in the earlier game, Depor could therefore afford to lose by a single goal and go through, although a similar result to the first game would take the Dutch side through, largely thanks to the 8-3 result against Monaco two games ago.

Irureta was missing his injured midfield general Mauro Silva, and he chose a more defensive line up with Diego Tristán as his lone striker. The Spanish international felt he should have had a penalty when he was dragged down in the area, but Italian referee Pierluigi Collina waved away his appeal. Three minutes later the locals were in front, Robben and Kezman cutting through the defence and setting up De Jong for him to sweep the ball into the net off the post.

Depor went close a couple of times, with Sergio shooting wide and Waterreus saving from an Andrade header and another effort from Scaloni, but PSV could have gone further ahead when Vennegoor headed wide from Robben's cross in front of goal. And three minutes after the restart they did get that vital second goal, Robben picking up a loose ball and dribbling past a couple of defenders before firing a shot back into the bottom corner of the net.

After a few fruitless minutes Irureta decided he had to make changes, and he brought on Luque for Sergio. It proved to be an inspired move, and only two minutes later he scored with a screamer from over thirty yards out after a set piece free kick past the unsighted keeper. It was an all important away goal and meant that the Dutch side had to score twice, and a few minutes later it was all over when Pandiani, who had come on for Tristán, got on the end of Luque's cross to level the scores on the night.

De Jong did get a late winner for Guus Hiddink's side scoring into an empty net after Vennegoor headed Kezman's cross against the bar, but they were still two goals short. Depor made it four out of four for Spanish sides in Friday's draw, and they now await their next opponents.