MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
regular-article-logo Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Late blunder gifts Paris St Germain 1-0 home victory over Champions League debutants Girona

Dogged Inter keep City's super marksman Haaland waiting for 100-goal milestone

Reuters, AP/PTI Paris Published 20.09.24, 10:37 AM
The ball slips through Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s grasp and nestles into the net during the Champions League match against Paris St Germain at Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday

The ball slips through Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s grasp and nestles into the net during the Champions League match against Paris St Germain at Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday Reuters

An embarrassing late blunder gifted Paris St Germain a 1-0 home victory over Champions League debutants Girona on Wednesday as the visitors' goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga let a Nuno Mendes cross slip through his legs and into the net.

After relentless PSG pressure, Mendes’s low ball across the goal slipped through Gazzaniga’s grasp and into the net in stoppage time to earn the hosts victory.

ADVERTISEMENT

The match was one-sided, with the French champions dominating in attack and registering 26 total attempts compared to Girona's three.

Girona's defence effectively neutralised PSG's attack in the first half, causing mounting frustration for the hosts as they struggled to break down their opponents.

PSG's Marco Asensio came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a low shot aimed at the bottom corner, narrowly missing the post.

Just before half-time, Asensio appeared to suffer an injury, prompting manager Luis Enrique to substitute him with Randal Kolo Muani.

Following the half-time break, PSG continued to apply pressure, with Ousmane Dembele making a clear run from the halfway line only for Ladislav Krejci to execute a last-ditch challenge that preserved the scoreline for Girona.

Dembele came close again shortly after the hour, breaking free from his marker to strike a shot towards the top corner, only for it to rebound off the woodwork.

Girona, who seemed content with a draw, began to waste time, drawing boos from the Parc des Princes crowd as PSG started a late offensive push.

Kolo Muani narrowly missed with a shot and, shortly after, Achraf Hakimi's close-range half-volley was saved by Gazzaniga's legs. However, the goalkeeper's late error ultimately decided the match.

Injury concern

Inter Milan escaped Etihad Stadium with a surprise 0-0 draw against Manchester City, exacting a small measure of revenge for their narrow loss to Pep Guardiola's side in last year's final.

Both teams squandered numerous chances in a breathless back-and-forth affair. City were largely stalled by Inter's impressive discipline in defence, while Simone Inzaghi's Inter, who were dangerous on the break on a nervy night for both sides, lacked in finishing.

City face a new injury concern for Kevin de Bruyne ahead of a showdown with Premier League title rivals Arsenal after the playmaker was substituted at half-time on Wednesday.

The Belgium international looked in discomfort after making a run late in the first half. After receiving treatment, De Bruyne didn't return for the second half and was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan.

City's goal machine Erling Haaland, who would have become the fastest player in history to record 100 goals for a European club had he scored, will have to wait to achieve that milestone.

The Norwegian, who has nine goals in four Premier League games this season, narrowly missed a couple of first-half chances including a header that keeper Yann Sommer jumped up to grab on the line, and a hard, low shot that rolled just wide of the post.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan had City fans breathing a huge sigh of relief when he missed a late chance, launching a rocket just over the bar from about eight metres out, then holding his head in disbelief.

"A very intense game against a very strong opponent," City defender Ruben Dias told TNT.

"We knew what was coming, they're a top team as well, they're used to winning, and we knew we're not going to have an easy job. In the end, I think the team had a great performance, we were very close to scoring."

It was a lacklustre performance for four-time defending English champions City.

Dortmund relieved

Borussia Dortmund rode their luck in a 3-0 victory at Belgian side Club Brugge, where all their goals came in the final 14 minutes after their hosts had spurned several chances.

Brugge were the better side for much of the contest but Jamie Gittens’s brace and a penalty from Serhou Guirassy sealed victory for the visitors and left their hosts frustrated.

"It wasn’t a top performance but we took the win," Dortmund captain Emre Can admitted as his coach Nuri Sahin hailed his side's resilience.

"It was important to start with an away win against a tough opponent. It was a good, attacking match from both teams," Sahin said.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT