Brown salvages point at PSV Under-19s

Jaden Brown scored a late, late leveller as our Under-19s secured a deserved point in the UEFA Youth League against PSV in Eindhoven on Wednesday afternoon.

In fact, a point was the least the team deserved for a commanding performance at the Sportcomplex de Herdgang and we remain unbeaten in Group B, albeit with draws in all three matches so far against Inter, Barcelona and now PSV.

We dominated for long periods, controlled possession, created more chances, missed a penalty and laid siege to the home goal in the second half, only to stare defeat in the face. Thankfully, full-back Brown found a finish with the last kick of the game in the 95th minute to make it 2-2.

PSV had three notable moments in front of goal. Two ended in goals, the other a fine save from skipper Brandon Austin.

Even their goals had a stroke of fortune about them. The first, superbly executed by Joel Piroe on 16 minutes, arrived when a corner routine appeared to go wrong but our clearance was intercepted by Tijn Daverveld, he found Piroe and he found the top corner from 20 yards. It was PSV's first serious attack.

We clawed our way back into it after that blow. Jack Roles (twice) and Troy Parrott tested goalkeeper Kyan Van Dorp while both Oliver Skipp and Brown fizzed efforts just over. At the other end, Austin made his only notable save one-on-one from Yorbe Vertessen.

Austin could do little as PSV doubled their lead on 42 minutes. Mohammed Ihattaren took off from the right, dribbled into the box and let fly, his shot deflecting off Luis Binks and looping beyond the goalkeeper and home.

It was one-way traffic in the second half. You sensed one goal back may well signal the comeback and the perfect chance arrived on 52 minutes when J'Neil Bennett was tripped in the box. Roles stepped up – but Van Dorp saved his spot-kick down the middle with his legs.

Roles and Dilan Markanday went close before Paris Maghoma struck a 'worldy' for 2-1 on 74 minutes. Picking up the ball in the left channel, he strode forward before pinging a rocket into the top corner. Maghoma went close again on two occasions, TJ Eyoma's effort was blocked on the line, Brown headed over and Parrott blasted over as the chances came and went. But the clock kept ticking and as it hit 95, Brown managed to fire through a crowd of bodies for 2-2.

Key moment

In hindsight, with a draw now in the bag, you could point to Austin's one-on-one save to deny Vertessen just before PSV's second goal. You could also easily point to Brown's late, late equaliser. But the key moment is a moment that would grace any game - Maghoma's thunderbolt to make it 2-1 on 74 minutes. We were already on top by then but that goal gave the team that little extra belief, and a point finally arrived with the last kick of the game.

Coach’s view

There was a sense of relief after the game from coach Matt Wells, who was pleased to see his troops take something away after such an attacking display: “I’m immensely proud of the second-half performance,” he said. “We were up against it at half-time, we changed a few things in terms of the personnel and the shape.

“The mood was a bit flat at half-time and I can understand that from the 2-0 scoreline. With the pattern of the game, we were so dominant, we’d created chances and it was just about adding the finishing touches and making sure we paid attention to the defensive details. PSV’s two goals came from the things we’d highlighted time and time again throughout the week based on the videos we’d studied and it’s about paying attention to that because there are fine margins at this level. In the first half, PSV had three attacks – never mind shots – and scored two goals so there was a sense that we needed to improve on our defensive intensity and that the players in the front half of the pitch had to be decisive.

“We brought Paris (Maghoma) on at half-time and he came on with a real purpose. He would have been disappointed not to start the game – we made some big decisions based on our training sessions over the past couple of days and it was a tough one to leave him out – but he’s taken it on the chin, come on and made a massive impact. Without his impact, perhaps we wouldn’t have got back into the game so I’m delighted for him and the role that he played. Obviously us missing the penalty felt like a big blow but to keep going after that, score through Paris, then in the 95th minute to keep pushing and pushing and equalise, I’m really proud of that.”

Match data

UEFA Youth League, Group B, Matchday Three.

Goals: PSV - Piroe 16, Ihattaren 42; Spurs - Maghoma 74, Brown 90+5.

Yellow cards: PSV - Vos 9, Thomas 53; Spurs - Roles 45+2.

Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden).

Venue: Sportcomplex de Herdgand, Eindhoven.

Weather: Cloudy, 16 degrees.