[ad_1]
Manchester United started the afternoon a short distance from the knockout stages of the Champions League. At one point, when they stormed Paris Saint-Germain on the counterattack early in the second half, they seemed closer than ever. However, full time, the point they needed had escaped them. They will get another chance next Tuesday at RB Leipzig on the last night of this wild section of the group stage. Fail and they will come out. Quite abruptly, everything has become extremely nervous.
Those were the big brushstrokes on an occasion when PSG not only kept their hopes for progress alive, but also kept control of their destiny. Last season’s defeated finalists now need a draw at home to Istanbul Basaksehir to be sure, although they could fight their way through with a loss.
The detail from United’s perspective included a blatant failure by the off-set Anthony Martial 2-1 when he seemed easier to score and a 70-minute sending-off for Fred with whom he had aggressively flirted all night. The Brazilian had saved a direct red card in the 21st minute after he pressed his forehead against Leandro Paredes’ and then threw it to himself while kicking the same opponent before the end of the first half. This time it was Paredes who was reprimanded for facing the challenge with some force.
It was a mystery not only how Fred avoided a dismissal for misuse of his head, but why Ole Gunnar Solskjær did not replace him at halftime. The United manager played with fire and burned, although Fred did get the ball before catching Ander Herrera for his second yellow card. The reaction of the former United midfielder was theatrical. The darker arts were the theme of the evening.
PSG could have won this game before them. After Neymar’s first game, they put United’s goal into a storm. But at the same time, it took United’s extravagance to light their way to victory. After Martial’s horrific failure, former PSG forward Edinson Cavani floated a chip over Keylor Navas and against the crossbar. On the rebound, Bruno Fernandes pushed Martial only for Marquinhos to jump to a save block. Martial cannot buy a break at this time.
Weekly soccer
Klopp’s children and the changes in the Champions League
Marquinhos scored the crucial second goal for PSG, which they had announced, but failed to defend as a collective all night, offering space and hope to United. Solskjær’s side nearly got a second draw through Paul Pogba, who came on as a substitute, and Fernandes before the final turn saw PSG punish United on the counter, a reversal of the pattern for much of the game.
Kylian Mbappé dragged himself out when he had to score – he has not had a goal in the Champions League since last December – before Neymar showed him how, finishing after a cut by substitute Rafinha. How costly does United’s surprising defeat in Istanbul last month seem now?
PSG took over early on here, with Neymar slamming shut from a tight angle after a Mbappé shot bounced off Victor Lindelöf. And they could have scored again before the tie was 20 minutes away.
Alessandro Florenzi extended David de Gea from range after a terrible punt from Fred; Neymar stretched but couldn’t reach a cross from Florenzi and the forward then worked De Gea with a hooked volley. The big opportunity came when Mbappé led a break and combined with Neymar only to fail to play on Moise Kean.
Fred’s escape came after the referee was advised to review his confrontation with Paredes on the court monitor. From PSG’s point of view they started badly when they ran to the wrong side and, incredibly, they would be satisfied if a yellow card was punishment enough. Has no sense. Nor was Fred’s decision to become a challenge for Paredes in the 37th minute. Risky didn’t start to cover it up.
At the time, United was level but did not reflect the balance of the first half. Although Marcus Rashford looked threatening, there was a lack of direction and poor final decisions from his team. The goal was scored by a large deflection, Rashford’s shot going into Danilo after Navas denied Martial.
United recalibrated in the interval and were on the rise for the first time at the start of the second period. Cavani released Rashford in one glorious move, and when he crossed, Martial soared high. Then Cavani was unlucky. How he would have liked to hurt PSG after their bitter departure at the end of last season.
Cheers bubbled everywhere. Neymar complained of being trampled by Scott McTominay late in the first half as Martial bloodied Marquinhos in an aerial challenge. The referee fought for control.
PSG returned. Marquinhos headed off the top of the crossbar and De Gea brilliantly saved substitute Mitchel Bakker, before Marquinhos made his mark.
It was the most careless of goals, Herrera’s wild shot was converted through the goal by Abdou Diallo for the center half to pack home. PSG only saw the beauty in that.
