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Stunning Pepi Goal Secures Dramatic 3-2 Win for PSV Over Shakhtar in Champions League Thriller

In a thrilling encounter at the Philips Stadion, PSV Eindhoven completed a remarkable 3-2 comeback against Shakhtar Donetsk, with a dramatic 95th-minute winner from Ricardo Pepi sealing the victory. The match, which had seemed all but lost for the home side with just minutes remaining, was a testament to the unpredictable nature of the Champions League.

Shakhtar appeared to be cruising to a crucial three points after leading 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Artem Sikan and Viktor Zubkov. The visitors' dominance continued into the second half, and despite a red card for Pedrinho in the 70th minute, they remained in control heading into the final stages.

PSV, however, refused to give up. With just three minutes to go, Malik Tillman sparked a dramatic turnaround, scoring twice in quick succession. His first, a powerful long-range strike from outside the box, was a thing of beauty, leaving Shakhtar goalkeeper Anatoliy Riznyk helpless. The equalizer came moments later, as Tillman pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to level the score at 2-2.

With Shakhtar visibly shaken, PSV pressed for the winner in the dying moments. It came in the 95th minute when Pepi, ever alert in the box, diverted a cross into the back of the net to complete the most astonishing of comebacks. Riznyk, who had been exceptional throughout the match with a series of crucial saves, was finally beaten once more, as the home crowd erupted in jubilation.

Despite the defeat, Shakhtar can take some pride in their defensive resilience up until the final moments, with Riznyk's heroics in goal keeping PSV at bay for much of the match. The visitors' tactical discipline had kept the game in their favor even after Pedrinho's sending-off, but they ultimately paid the price for not sealing the game earlier.

The statistics reflected PSV's dominance in terms of attacking play. The hosts finished with an xG of 2.84, compared to Shakhtar’s 1.03, underlining their overall control in the match despite the scoreboard being against them for much of the game.

With this thrilling victory, PSV now sit in 18th place in the table, while Shakhtar remain in 26th. The win boosts PSV's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages, with their next Champions League fixture away to Brest. As for Shakhtar, they will need to regroup quickly before facing Bayern Munich at home in their next match, hoping to recover from a devastating loss.

Key Stats:

  • PSV: 3 goals (xG: 2.84)
  • Shakhtar Donetsk: 2 goals (xG: 1.03)
  • Man of the Match: Malik Tillman (PSV)
  • Ricardo Pepi: Scored the match-winning goal in the 95th minute
  • Shakhtar's Anatoliy Riznyk: Made several key saves, keeping his side ahead until the dying moments.

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