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UEFA Champions League: Vennegoor of Hesselink gives PSV winning start [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Eindhoven, Holland (Reuters) - PSV Eindhoven battled to a 1-0 win over Schalke 04 as last year's UEFA Champions League semi-finalists got off to a winning start.
Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored the only goal after 33 minutes with a powerful header in the Group E match.
Schalke forced PSV onto the defensive after the interval but failed to take any of the several chances they created.
The win leaves PSV second in the group with three points behind AC Milan, who beat Fenerbahce 3-1.
"I'm satisfied with this result against a team with physical and tactical strength..... we have had worse starts in the Champions League," said PSV coach Guus Hiddink.
PSV began their 10th Champions League campaign, and ninth in succession, with only five of those who played in the semi-final second leg in May when they lost on away goals to AC Milan.
It took 20 minutes for the home side to look comfortable with a reorganised defence in which Eric Addo and Theo Lucius replaced injured Brazilian Alex and cup-tied Michael Ball.
They then put Schalke under pressure with Jefferson Farfan getting the first real opening after being set up by Ibrahim Afellay but his shot was too weak to surprise keeper Frank Rost.
Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi wasted Schalke's only clear first-half chance after 24 minutes when he missed the ball after a brilliant chipped free kick from Lincoln.
"We lost this match because we didn't create enough chances," said Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick. "In the first half only Kevin Kuranyi had a chance but where he normally will use his left foot he tried with his right."
POWERFUL HEADER
PSV seized the initiative after Kuranyi's miss and scored nine minutes later when Vennegoor of Hesselink was left unmarked to send home a powerful header from a DaMarcus Beasley corner.
Filled with confidence, PSV tried to settle the match before the break but Rost pushed a curling free kick from Beasley over the bar while a fierce 25-metre attempt by Philip Cocu was wide.
In the second half Schalke, having qualified for only their second Champions League campaign, forced PSV back into their own half and created two good chances.
On the hour Ebbe Sand's close range header missed the target and minutes later Kuranyi failed to put a Rafinha cross beyond PSV goalkeeper Gomes.
Thirteen minutes from time Hamit Altintop forced Gomes into a full length save when he hammered the ball from 30 metres.
In the final minutes 19-year-old Afellay missed a close range chance to seal the win for PSV while Schalke substitute Soren Larsen misdirected a header that could have given his team a better start then in their previous campaign.
"In the first half we played (a) European (style)..." added Hiddink. "We knew where the danger was and found the unmarked man. After the break we faced more difficulties because Schalke changed their game plan.
"Despite all the pressure we only gave away two chances and I have to give my team the compliments for the way they achieved this result."
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