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Manchester United got off to a perfect start to their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Marcus Rashford scored with three minutes remaining, 18 months after scoring the decisive goal in a 3-1 win over PSG that sent United to the quarter-finals after a 2-0 home loss in the first leg .
United took the lead on a Bruno Fernandes penalty twice in the first half before Anthony Martial’s own goal after the break gave PSG the equalizer, only for Rashford to close out the win with a precise low shot. .
PSG, who were a beaten finalist in last season’s competition, started brilliantly with United goalkeeper David De Gea making saves by Angel Di Maria, from outside the penalty area, and Layvin Kurzawa, from close up.
United received a penalty in the 20th minute when Abdou Diallo fouled Martial, but Fernandes, named captain in Harry Maguire’s absence, saw his penalty shot blocked by Keylor Navas.
However, the PSG goalkeeper had both feet off the goal line when he made the save, meaning that Fernandes was able to re-shoot the penalty, which he converted on the second attempt.
PSG’s luck was summed up in injury time in the first half when Kylian Mbappé’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected over the crossbar by
The Ligue 1 champions reacted by introducing loan forward Moise Kean in place of midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
From a Neymar corner kick, Martial headed for his own net in the 55th minute to level the home side and stun United.
The determined defense of the Premier League team, notably Aaron Wan-Bissaka in Mbappé’s standings, saw them resist a period of pressure from PSG.
Paul Pogba replaced rookie Alex Telles in the 67th minute as United changed formation and the French international helped Rashford’s goal, leaving the ball late in the game to give the English side a valuable victory.
“Of course it’s a nice feeling,” Rashford told BT Sport after the game. “More importantly, we won the game. We are in a strong position now in the group, but it is the first game. The concentration levels that we show today we have to carry them towards the next game. For me, both were opportunities to win the game. As a forward, at the end of the game, that’s the mentality. You may only get one chance. It gives us all three points.
“It’s a good performance, but also one where we have a lot to build on. I always believe in the team. As players, it is important to believe in the system that the coach chooses to play. We did it fantastic. It was difficult, but we kept it up. High intensity. We had to defend very deep at times. They have some incredible players. In low blocking it can be difficult, but the guys on the sides, the wingers, defended incredibly. When we defend like that man to man, we can do really well.
“Each game requires different tactics and a different performance, but what has to stay the same is the intensity. The intensity was key for us tonight. We continued for 90 minutes. We are very happy today.”
It was PSG’s first defeat in the Champions League group stage at the Parc des Princes in 16 years, the first in 25 games.
Source: espn.co.uk
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