JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain made a devastating late comeback to defeat Chelsea FC 5-2 in the first leg of their round of 16 tie at the Parc des Princes.
However, the match will be remembered as much for a costly error by goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen as for the brilliance of substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Chelsea had counterattacked twice to tie the game at 2-2 and looked capable of leaving Paris with a valuable result.
Instead, a disastrous mistake by Jorgensen led to a late collapse that allowed PSG to take a three-goal lead heading into next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Kvaratskhelia came off the bench to score twice in the final minutes, sealing a crushing victory for the European champions and leaving Chelsea with a monumental task in the second leg.
PSG attacks early through Barcola
PSG wasted no time in imposing itself in front of its fans.
Just ten minutes into the match, Bradley Barcola broke the deadlock, firing powerfully through a crowd of Chelsea defenders and inside the near post after Ousmane Dembélé’s cross had been headed into his path.
It was a particularly satisfying moment for Barcola, who had been questioned before the match over his lack of goals in the Champions League over the past year.
Chelsea goalkeeper Jorgensen soon temporarily redeemed himself by sending Dembélé’s powerful shot onto the post.
But the visitors responded quickly.
Gusto and Fernández lead Chelsea’s comeback
Chelsea equalized when Malo Gusto stepped forward and confidently finished past PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov after being intercepted by Enzo Fernández.
The parity did not last long.
Just 14 seconds after Cole Palmer shot straight at Safonov from inside the area, PSG struck again on the counterattack.
Dembélé beat defender Wesley Fofana before calmly slotting past Jorgensen to regain the home team’s lead.
The goal had been created by an excellent run by Desire Doue, who evaded the attacks of Moisés Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah before releasing the French striker.
Chelsea equalize again after PSG’s mistake
Chelsea continued to compete strongly and found another equalizer in the second half.
Doue, who had played a decisive role in PSG’s second goal, was caught in possession by Pedro Neto.
The Portuguese winger launched a low cross that Fernández sent into the net to make it 2-2 and give Chelsea new faith.
At that point, the Blues had matched PSG in intensity, creativity and tactical bravery.
But the turning point came shortly after.
Jorgensen’s costly mistake changes the game
With less than 20 minutes left, Jorgensen attempted to play from the back but completely misjudged his pass, sending the ball straight to Barcola.
The PSG striker quickly put the ball into the path of Vitinha, who calmly lofted the stranded goalkeeper to regain the home team’s lead for the third time.
The mistake proved catastrophic for Chelsea.
Their composure faded as PSG sensed blood.
Kvaratskhelia offers late magic
Moments after coming on as a substitute, Kvaratskhelia produced a moment of pure brilliance.
The Georgian attacker shot sensationally from the edge of the penalty area, past Jorgensen, to make it 4-2.
Then, with virtually the last shot of the match, he added his second of the night with a composed side-foot finish to complete the score at 5-2.
The late double ensured that PSG will travel to London next week with a considerable lead.
Neto apologizes after the ball boy incident
Chelsea’s difficult night was compounded by an incident involving winger Pedro Neto late in injury time.
Frustrated in the final moments, the Portuguese international pushed a ball boy, knocking him over a chair and causing a brief confrontation between players from both teams.
Speaking after the match, Neto apologized wholeheartedly.
“I want to apologize to the ball boy. I already spoke to him.”
“We were losing and in the excitement of the game I wanted to catch the ball quickly and I gave him a little push.”
“I’m not like that. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologize. I gave him my shirt. I’m so sorry, I feel like I have to apologize to him.”
“My French is not very good and [Portugal team-mate] Vitinha approached him and told him that I was not like that.”
“In the end he [the ball boy] “I laughed and gave him my shirt and apologized about 35 times.”
“He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation.”
It is not yet clear whether UEFA will take disciplinary action.
“The last 15 or 20 minutes were crazy” – Rosenior
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior admitted his team lost their composure late in the match.
“The last 15 or 20 minutes were crazy in many ways,” he said.
“That’s up to me. I need to be better in the moments when setbacks, mistakes, bBut you have to stay calm in the moment, including me.”
“And we didn’t, and we were punished by a very good team, which makes the score painful because for 75 minutes we were tied and in the game.”
“It’s something we’ve talked about since the first day I arrived, about reacting positively, about staying calm in moments of pressure, and it hasn’t happened.”
“We will not reach our potential and my job is to find the answer.”
Everything at stake at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea can take heart from their performance for much of the match after their tough defeat.
For about 75 minutes they matched the reigning champions step by step.
However, defensive lapses, a lack of discipline and a costly error by the goalkeeper finally allowed PSG’s fearsome attacking unit to run amok.
Chelsea now face the difficult task of overturning a three-goal deficit when they host PSG in the decisive second leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
Before that, the Blues will return to Premier League action against Newcastle United, while PSG will enjoy a week off after their Ligue 1 match was postponed.
