It was a Champions League thriller with everything in it. Drama, red card controversy, opportunities at both ends, spectacular personal interventions. But when pulse prices stabilized, Manchester United had to consider a defeat to set a make-or-break final group tie at RB Leipzig next Tuesday. Paris Saint-Germain, the finalists who lost last season, survive and, even better for them, they are in control of their fate.
It was a game that the French champions should have won many times before, when the Marquinhos ended the Jadbaslak 2-1 in a close series. With Tina’s second goal, Neymar guilded the scoreline at the very end.
Yet, equally, they may have faced a deficient temper that could prove too much for them. After Marcus Rashford scored Neymar’s first goal, United were given a 2-1 lead early in the second half by former PSG strikers Huntho Marshall and Edinson Cavani.
Fred was out for two bookable offenses, although he should have seen red for the first one and nothing for the other, and United now know they need a point in Leipzig for progress.
PSG fought their first final in late August, but they knew at the kick-off that their continued involvement was hanging in the balance. The crisis underscored the occasion, which was also heavy on the recent history between glamor and clubs. It felt like a classic match-up with Old Trafford Natural under the lights, if it was still vigorous.
Le Le Gunnar went to the defense of Fred and Scott McTomine in the Solskjr Central midfield, but the plan was thwarted when the PSG cut through his team to score the opening goal. Callian Mbappe got out from the right before switching over with Neymar and showing McTomin quick legs to get around.
When Mbappe shot, the ball bounced back to Victor Lindloff’s ball to break Neckmar’s right side. Angle was tight but the Brazilian ball was rushing ahead of David de Gina.
The PSG was run by Revenge, not only for the defeat in October, but also for a dramatic far-reaching goal in the last-16 of the 2018-19 competition. They were in the mood to injure United and they would be able to score again before the tie was 20 minutes old.
Alessandro Florenzi extended De Gia from the range after fierce approval by Fred; Neymar lengthened but Florenzi could not reach the cross and then Brazilian de Gia worked with a hooked volley. The big opportunity, however, came when Mbappe took the lead and failed to play in Mois Kane along with Neymar.
United lived on his nerves and Fred summed up his ordeal when he hurt himself in a red way for 21 minutes. Excitement erupted after Bruno Fernandez went down to the theater after a swipe squared by Danilo and Fred to Leandro Peredis. They pressed their foreheads together before Fred pushed them forward. Paradise crushed to the ground.
Q referee Daniel Orsato was being advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and it started badly from a PSG point of view when the Italian initially ran towards the wrong touchline.
In the end, he will be satisfied that the yellow card is a sufficient punishment. It makes no sense. Nor did Fred decide to challenge Peridis in the 37th minute. The perilous did not begin to describe it. Pardes couldn’t even get back, and he grabbed Fred to make the booking.
At the time, United was level but it did not reflect the first-half balance. Although Rodford Shefford looked intimidating, he lacked directness and poor final choices from his team. He took a big leap to get his team back into it. After Fernandez won the ball, Marshall pulled off a low save by Calor Navas and when Aaron Van-Bisaka recycled the ball, Rodford Shefford hit a low on the far corner. Danilo turned the ball closer to Navas and inside the nearest post.
United recalibrated at intervals and they should take the lead on one of the two breaks at the start of the second period. Edinson Cavani, a former PSG striker, was at the heart of both. It was his gorgeous flick that knocked out Rash Rashford and Marshall had to score when he crossed. He lifted high. After that, Marshall released Cavani, whose chip beat Navas just to get back from the crossbar. From the rebound, Fernandez up Marshall. His shot was charged by Marquis.
It was excellent entertainment with a spicy edge. Neymar complained of being sealed by McTomini at the end of the first half when Marshall bled Marquinhos in an aerial challenge. The PSG questioned Orsato’s control.
PSG came back. Before Marquinhos went to the top of the crossbar and De Gea made a superb save from substitute, Michelle Baker, Abdo Diallo smuggled a wild low shot from Ander Herrera into the six-yard line in second place. Marquinhos took a touch and scored.
Solskjરેr paid for his decision not to substitute Fred when he challenged midfielder Herrera. He got the first ball, but when he reached for the second yellow card, Orsato made another irregular decision. Fred was lucky to survive this long.
United have nothing left? Paul Pogba, as a substitute, went to the 20-yard high volley club and Fernandez went to Navas. MBAP should add a third to the break. Neymar finished the work.
