PSV - CFR Cluj - 2009

Otman Bakkal's first-half header was enough for PSV Eindhoven to claim their opening win of this year's Europa League at home to CFR Cluj. Bakkal scored the game's only goal after nine minutes when the impressive Balazs Dzsudzsak picked him out with a cross, but the hosts had to withstand a Cluj onslaught in the second half as they nervously held on. The visitors piled forward after half-time but could not break down PSV who went top of Group K with their win, a point above the Romanians. Hungary international Dzsudzsak was a constant menace in the first half and it was his cross that set up the match winner with Bakkal placing his header into the bottom-right corner. Dzsudzsak then drilled a shot wide himself before the Cluj defence cleared a corner only as far as Ibrahim Afellay who thundered his shot from the edge of the area against the right-hand upright. Ola Toivanen twice should have scored PSV's second just before the break when he missed a couple of gilt-edged opportunities. On both occasions it was the trickery of Dzsudzsak that set him up, with the winger first cutting inside his defender and firing a cross only for Toivanen. He was completely unmarked at the top of the six-yard box but laconically glanced his header wide. It was a bad miss and he repeated the misdemeanour two minutes later when rushing on to a low Dzsudzsak centre only to force his shot over the crossbar. Cluj had provided PSV goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson with little to do before the break but shortly after the re-start the Swede had to be aware to tip Ricardo Cadu's header over. Cadu then arrived late to meet a Ciprain Deac cross but he mistimed his kick and Isaksson was able to hold on. PSV could not hold onto the ball and only retained their lead because Cluj could not find their range. The lively Deac shot over from the edge of the area before Lucina Traore headed wide under pressure. Orlando Engelaar fired a shot straight at Simoes Nuno Claro following a rare PSV foray forward. The visitors were soon threatening again when Traore nutmegged Andre Ooijer before sliding his shot from an acute angle wide as the home defence held on.