PSG Strikes Late To Claim Victory Against Lyon
A late Mauro Icardi strike earned Paris St Germain (PSG) a last-minute 2-1 home victory in the French Ligue 1 match against Olympique Lyonnais on Lionel Messi’s Parc des Princes debut.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for an attacking line-up with Messi, Neymar, Mbappe and Angel Di Maria in front of a two-man midfield featuring Idrissa Gueye and Ander Herrera. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma started his second Ligue 1 game after Keylor Navas started in the Champions League.
Messi forced Anthony Lopes to a great save in the 32nd minute after a clever backheel from Neymar. Four minutes later, his 25-metre curled free kick crashed onto the bar. Early in the second half, Lyon went ahead when Karl Toko Ekambi played Lucas Paqueta through for the Brazilian to beat Donnarumma.
The goal spurred PSG back into action and Neymar, who was closer to his best than in any other game this season, was brought down in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.
The Brazil forward coolly slotted the ball past Lopes to convert the penalty in the 66th minute.
Messi looked puzzled when he was replaced with fullback Achraf Hakimi, whose runs down the right flank were sorely missed by PSG.
Lyon coach Peter Bosz replaced Xherdan Shaqiri with Rayan Cherki with the hope of grabbing all three points but it was the hosts who scored the winner when Icardi, who came on for Di Maria in the 82nd minute, found the back of the net.
French Ligue 1 leaders PSG maintained their perfect start to the season with 18 points.
Lyon, who made a stuttering start to the season, are ninth with eight points while Olympique de Marseille moved up to second on 13 points from five games after a convincing 2-0 victory against Stade Rennais.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
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