Atlético Madrid 2 - 1 PSV Eindhoven

The sound of silence

Updated: November 26, 2008, 8:00 AM UK

Atletico Madrid shrugged off the absence of any supporters at their Vicente Calderon stadium to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League with victory over PSV Eindhoven.

Early goals from Simao Sabrosa and Maxi Rodriguez put the Spanish outfit in control, and although PSV pulled a goal back through Danny Koevermans, Atletico held out in a match played behind closed doors due to crowd incidents during the game here against Marseille on October 1.

The victory means Atletico have secured their place in the knockout stages along with Liverpool, and both clubs will battle for top spot in Group D in the final round of fixtures.

No fans were allowed in the stadium, but that did not prevent a sizeable group of Atletico supporters from congregating outside one of the open corners of the ground, and they provided a stream of chants and songs throughout the match to cheer their side on.

They would have had little to get excited about in the opening 14 minutes of the clash even if they had been inside the stadium, but they were soon able to celebrate a goal as Simao put the Rojiblancos ahead with the first serious effort of the game.

PSV defender Carlos Salcido failed to deal with a cross in from right-back Giourkas Seitaridis and Simao stabbed the loose ball home at the second attempt.

The goal was not greeted by silence as had been expected though, as aside from the joyous supporters outside, there was also a recording of cheering played on the stadium's sound system and images of celebrating fans on the big screens as Atletico tried their best to create some sort of faux atmosphere.

The same routine then took place again in the 27th minute as Atletico made it 2-0 through captain Maxi.

Raul Garcia almost got his name on the scoresheet with a thumping header that Andreas Isaksson did superbly to tip over, but from the following corner the ball fell kindly to the unmarked Maxi, who smashed home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.

Atletico certainly deserved to be ahead at that point after looking the much more threatening side, but a defensive lapse almost allowed PSV to pull a goal back 60 seconds later through Edison Mendez.

The Ecuadorian's low shot beat Atletico goalkeeper Gregory Coupet but John Heitinga, who came up through the youth ranks at PSV's rivals Ajax, managed to block the effort on the line.

That was PSV's clearest chance of the first half, and Huub Stevens' side will be grateful they were not further behind at the break with Atletico star Sergio Aguero firing a great chance over following good work by Simao.

PSV had looked second-best for much of the opening period, but the Dutch visitors gave Atletico something to worry about as they pulled a goal back immediately after the re-start after winning a corner on the right.

Mendez delivered the cross and, with the home defence making a mess of clearing the danger, Koevermans was able to prod the ball past Coupet from close range.

Atletico substitute Florent Sinama Pongolle had a chance to restore his side's two-goal advantage in the 68th minute only to be denied by Isaksson, before PSV raced down the other end where Balazs Dzsudzsak brought a finger-tip save out of Coupet.

PSV were unable to get any closer to an equaliser in the closing stages though, even with goalkeeper Isaksson venturing up for a late corner, and they must now hope to pip Marseille for third place and a UEFA Cup berth.