Gomes hails PSV heroes

By Kevin Ashby

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes hailed PSV Eindhoven as "a team full of heroes" after they became the first side in the history of the UEFA Champions League to win a two-legged knockout tie on penalties.

Team effort
With the Dutch club and Olympique Lyonnais inseparable on Wednesday night after two 1-1 draws and 30 minutes of extra time, PSV's Brazilian No1 came to the fore in the shoot-out, repelling efforts from Michael Essien and Eric Abidal to pave the way for a 4-2 success and a semi-final place. "I'm not the only hero, the whole team is," Gomes told uefa.com. "I just did my job - keeping the ball out of the net - to the best of my ability like I always do."

'Very proud'
By the time Gomes had pushed away Lyon's second spot-kick - Essien failing to add to Juninho Pernambucano's successful conversion - PSV had already scored twice through captain Mark van Bommel and André Ooijer. "Obviously I'm very proud," Van Bommel told uefa.com, reflecting on a sterling individual and collective performance. "Everyone worked hard, especially after we went 1-0 down, but we stayed calm and played a really good game."

Noisy reception
The home crowd roared as the 27-year-old Dutch international stepped up to get the shoot-out under way, although his concentration was such that the din had no effect on his preparation. "I wasn't too nervous really," continued Van Bommel. "When you walk to the spot you don't hear anything - you're just alone with the ball and concentrating on hitting it as hard as you can into the net."

'Incredible match'
That same philosophy served Ooijer well as he stroked in PSV's second. "It was an incredible match," the right-back told uefa.com. "The teams were on the same level which is why both legs finished 1-1. We were under pressure as they have a great attack but once we equalised we were able to relax more. I was no more nervous than normal taking the penalty, as I knew before I would take one if it came to it [penalties]."

Beasley miss
Wilfred Bouma also registered for PSV who could afford a miss from DaMarcus Beasley as Brazilian substitute Robert fired the winning penalty to Grégory Coupet's right to spark scenes of joy in a city which has not experienced such excitement since PSV lifted the 1987/88 European Champion Clubs' Cup. In that final they beat SL Benfica in a shoot-out, having overcome Real Madrid CF on away goals in the semi-finals.

Underdog label
Now another European giant awaits the class of 2005, and Van Bommel and Ooijer both acknowledged that likely semi-final opponents AC Milan are "the best team left in the competiton". As against AS Monaco FC and Lyon, however, the underdog label will suit PSV as they attempt to win a tie that would earn them god-like rather than just hero status in this most fanatical football city.