PSV Eindhoven’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League took a blow as they were well beaten 3-0 in Newcastle.
The English side were clinical in front of goal but were helped by some hapless defending by PSV as they went two goals up within half an hour and never looked like relinquishing control.
Peter Bosz was forced to play Guus Til as a makeshift striker in place of the injured Ricardo Pepi, while Moroccan international Anass Salah-Eddine was restored to defence after returning from the African Cup of Nations.
PSV failed to heed an early alarm when Yarek Gasiorowski had to be rescued by Joey Veerman when he gave the ball away in his own half in the seventh minute.
Newcastle kept up the pressure and scored just a minute later as goalkeeper Matej Kovar was dispossessed, allowing Joelinton to lay the ball on a plate for Yoane Wissa.
Another defensive lapse after 30 minutes cost PSV again, as Gasiorowski gave away possession to Wissa, who bypassed Kovar to allow Antony Gordon to roll in the second.
Bosz’s injury woes increased just before half-time when Salah-Eddine was taken off and replaced by Armando Obispo. Shortly afterwards Paul Wanner drew a rare save from Newcastle’s Nick Pope with a speculative shot from the edge of the area.
PSV started the second half with more intent but Newcastle drove them back and only Kovar’s quick thinking prevented Gordon scoring a third when he broke from deep.
Any hopes of a comeback were quashed when Harvey Barnes bagged a third on 65 minutes, running onto a loose ball and evading two defenders before beating Kovar at the near post.
The result leaves PSV just above the play-off line in 22nd place on eight points, but with a tough final match to come at home to Bayern Munich.
If they lose they could open the door to Ajax, two points behind, to snatch an unlikely spot, but other results will have to go the Amsterdammers’ way.
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