PSV progress past Bucuresti unscathed

Late goals from Stanislav Manolev and Tim Matavz ensured PSV Eindhoven finished their UEFA Europa League group stage campaign unbeaten with a 2-1 victory win over Rapid Bucuresti. PSV's fine form had already ensured them top spot in Group C ahead of the final round of matches while the visiting Romanians had no hope of catching second-placed Legia Warsaw. But Bucuresti still started brightly, forcing a succession of early corners and putting PSV under some pressure, with Antonio Marcelo, Orlando Engelaar and Jetro Willems among those forced to boot clear. Marcelo missed PSV's first chance in the 16th minute when he met Zakaria Labyad's right-wing corner with a right-footed shot from six yards which flashed to the left of Dumitru Coman's post. A low-key encounter brought few other clear-cut openings, with Rapid creating a chance in the 38th minute when Ciprian Deac blazed a free-kick over the bar from 20 yards after a foul by Marcel Ritzmaier. The second half continued in pedestrian fashion with Ritzmaier firing a 57th-minute shot which was blocked in the box by Dan Alexa, then Vladimir Bozovic firing just wide for the visitors. Rapid's substitute keeper Catalin Straton, who came on for the injured Coman in the first half, made a fine save with his legs to deny Jeremain Lens in the 74th minute as PSV belatedly began to threaten. Moments later they finally made their breakthrough when Manolev fired home a crisp shot from 25 yards after being set up by a pass from Ola Toivonen on the right. Three minutes later PSV extended their lead when Matavz was fed by Lens on the right side of the penalty area and had no difficulty directing the ball past Straton from six yards. Rapid responded with a long-range effort from Alex which hit the bar, before the home side came close to grabbing a third when Ritzmaier's 20-yard drive was caught by Straton. The visitors grabbed a consolation goal in injury time when Deac found Daniel Pancu in the box and the striker prodded the ball home from six yards.