6.36 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Chelsea vs PSG Champions League 1st leg: Lavezzi and Pastore goals stun Chelsea

Paris St Germain's Javier Pastore (centre) celebrates with team mates after scoring the third goal for the team during their Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match against Chelsea at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, April 2, 2014. (REUTERS)

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Javier Pastore's brilliant individual goal in stoppage time put the gloss on Paris St Germain's 3-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Chelsea on Wednesday to leave the French side favourites to reach the last four.

The Argentine, on as a late substitute, cut in from the byline, evading a number of Chelsea defenders before beating keeper Petr Cech at his near post.

It prompted incredulous Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to label the goal "a joke" in his post-game news conference.

PSG, boosted by an inspired display from another Argentine - Ezequiel Lavezzi - could be without talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for next week's return at Stamford Bridge after the Swede trudged off clutching his right thigh 20 minutes from time.

Ibrahimovic was substituted minutes after David Luiz had turned into his own net from a freekick to put PSG 2-1 up.

"He felt some pain in his muscle, we'll check in detail tomorrow. It's an injury that will require some time of rest," PSG coach Laurent Blanc told French TV.

Ligue 1 leaders PSG went ahead in the fourth minute when Lavezzi shot high into the roof off the net after controlling a weak John Terry clearance.

Eden Hazard equalised in the 27th from the penalty spot and the Belgian also struck the post in the first half.

"I think from a strategic point of view the team showed great discipline," Mourinho, whose team are second in the Premier League, said.

"But we made defensive mistakes so we paid the price."

Ibrahimovic, who has scored 10 goals in the competition this season but has yet to win the tournament, was unusually quiet with the Sweden striker outshone by the impressive Lavezzi.

'Ibra', who exhanged words of respect and admiration with Mourinho, his coach at Inter Milan in 2008-09, before the game, failed to sparkle.

Paris St Germain are sweating over Zlatan Ibrahimovic's fitness ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final return leg at Chelsea after the Sweden striker picked up a thigh injury on Wednesday.

Talisman Ibrahimovic, who failed to sparkle as PSG won the first leg 3-1 at the Parc des Princes, was substituted after 69 minutes holding his right thigh.

"It's a muscular problem," PSG coach Laurent Blanc told a news conference, adding that Ibrahimovic would undergo medical checks on Thursday.

"He wanted to continue to play but it was not reasonable. I hope he will be back as soon as possible. It's part of the game."

Ibrahimovic, who has scored 10 goals in this season's Champions League and 25 in the French league, had few opportunities against Chelsea.

But Ezequiel Lavezzi scored the opener and forced David Luiz into conceding an own goal with a well taken free kick in the second half.

"He brings depth and speed," said Blanc.

For Chelsea, Andre Schuerrle started at the expense of Fernando Torres, a clear signal that the London club had not travelled to Paris with an attacking mindset.

With Gregory van der Wiel out injured, Christophe Jallet was handed the task of containing Hazard on Chelsea's left flank.

Cech's 100th Champions League appearance got off to the worst possible start as Terry headed a Blaise Matuidi cross into the path of Lavezzi, who sent a stinging half volley back past the Czech keeper high into the roof of the net on four minutes.

Ramires picked up a yellow card in the 12th minute after he brought down Lavezzi who was speeding down his left flank on a swift PSG counter attack but the French side could not ram home their early advantage.

Thiago Silva's uncharacteristic mistake handed Chelsea the chance to equalise.

The Brazil centre back brought down Oscar with an ill-timed lunge and Hazard wrong footed Salvatore Sirigu to level with the resulting penalty.

The goal rocked PSG and the impressive Hazard went close to a second when he met Willian's cross with a low left-foot volley across goal from a tight angle which thudded against the base of the post.

Edinson Cavani was convinced he should have been awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime after tangling with Gary Cahill but his protests were waved away.

Lavezzi, who also had a chance in the first half with a fine volley on the turn, came close again with a powerful header that went over the bar.

It was from his curling free kick that Luiz deflected into his own net with the Brazilian close to his own goalline.

PSG stayed in control after Ibrahimovic left the pitch and Edinson Cavani went close with a curling shot before Pastore ignited raucous celebrations.

There seemed little room for manoeuvre after he received a throw-in but he turned away from Cesar Azpilicueta, evaded Frank Lampard and Terry and then beat Cech with a low strike.

Scuffles briefly erupted between PSG and Chelsea fans in central Paris before the game, with police reporting one injury.

FULL TIME

PSG 3 (Lavezzi 4" Luiz OG 61" Pastore 93") Chelsea 1 (Hazard 27")

Chelsea paid the price for being complacent against a sharp Paris St. Germain side and in the end went down 3-1 in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

Chelsea's David Luiz was the culprit scoring an own goal to give PSG the lead after the Blues had done well to hold the French League champions 1-1 until the 60th minute.

And just as the match was heading to a close Javier Pastore, who came in for the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, more than made up for his brief presence on the field by catching the Chelsea defence napping with a solo run that even had Petr Cech dumbstruck as he placed the ball to the near post.

That goal could prove crucial when they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next week.

Earlier, PSG tasted first blood when Ezequiel Lavezzi netted in the 4th minute, but Chelsea came back strongly after Hazard scored from the penalty spot when Thiago Silva brought down Oscar in the box.

 

90+3" GOAL! Pastore coming off the bench catches the Chelsea defence napping and with a solo run scores.

PSG 3 (Lavezzi 4" Luiz OG 61" Pastore 93") Chelsea 1 (Hazard 27")

90+1" PSG earn a corner and come close to adding to their tally but Silva and Motta miss.

88" Two minutes to go with a few minutes of injury time and PSG look like sealing the match.

85" YELLOW! Too many in this game as Cavani and Luiz are now booked.

84" Lavezzi makes his way out to a round of applause and is replaced by Pastore.

83" Cavani's best moment comes and he gives it his best shot but it just misses the target

82" YELLOW! Thiago Motta concedes an unnecessary free-kick and earns a yellow.

80" Ten minutes to go. Will Chelsea's goal be enough and will they go on the defensive or will they press for the equaliser?

77" Cavani looks out of sorts. Neither is at the right place at the right time nor his shots lack any power or placement.

73" Fantastic work by Lucas Moura who just came in for Ibra but Cavani made a mess after being put through with only Cech in sight. 

72" Lampard gets to make his 100th Champions League appearance after Oscar is removed.

70" Twenty minutes to go and Chelsea are pressing for an equaliser but Sirigu shows a safe pair of hands.

65" Scare for PSG as Ibra limps off with a hamstring injury.

61" GOAL! David Luiz will be kicking himself. First he gave away a stupid free-kick and then ended up putting the ball in his own net from a goalmouth melee.

PSG 2 (Lavezzi 4" Luiz OG 61") Chelsea 1 (Hazard 27")

58" PSG are holding on to the ball but Chelsea look stubborn.

56" Torres is finally in. Will he make a difference as he replaces Schurrle who failed to make any impact.

52" Midfield action on at the moment after 10 minutes since the breathe

49" Lavezzi's header of a Matuidi cross sails just over the crosspiece as his teammates on the bench anticipating a goal almost jump in jubilation.

47" Ramires is living dangerously here. He's lucky he got off with this one as he shoves Cavani in the face. He already misses the next match.

HALF TIME

PSG 1 (Lavezzi 4") Chelsea 1 (Hazard 27")

Chelsea scored through a penalty to hold Paris St Germain 1-1 at half-time in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

The penalty was awarded to the English club after Thiago Silva brought down Oscar in the box and Hazard scored from the spot in the 27th minute after Ezequiel Lavezzi gave Laurent Blanc's side a superb start with a goal in the fourth minute.

PSG had the major share of the exchanges for the first part although Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not much in the frame but Chelsea came into their own in the latter half and if they can hold PSG to a draw at the end it wil be a big morale booster for them in their home match next week.

42" PSG feel they have been denied a penalty after Cavani is brought down by Terry. However it looked as if he slipped in the box.

40" Chelsea seem to have the measure of PSG now and Hazard was unlucky not to find the net after his left footer beat an outstretched Sirigu but hit the post.

36" Hazard is all over the place, falling back to help the defence, blending well with the midfielders and then also ready to pounce on any loose ball in the PSG goal area.

32" YELLOW! It's Willian this time who is shown the card for preventing another PSG breakaway.

31" Jallet does well on the right flank and floats it into the box. Zlatan goes for a hearder but misses and the ball lands at Lavezzi's feet. With his back to the goal he tries to score but his shot lacks power.

27" GOAL! Hazard scores from the penalty spot after Silva brought Oscar down in the box.

PSG 1 (Lavezzi 4") Chelsea 1 (Hazard 27")

23" A superb counter-attack which began with Ibrahimovic had Lavezzi moving closer to goal only to find the side net.

21" Chelsea doing well to push PSG on the back foot. They just need one striker to give them that edge as Thiago Silva stands tall in defence for PSG. 

18" YELLOW! Alex brings down Ramires and is rightly booked.

15" Poor effort there from David Luiz, his weak left footer going easily into the hands of Sirigu.

11" YELLOW! Ramires is cautioned with a yellow for bringing down Lavezzi who looked good to go all the way and score. Ramires will miss the second leg.

8" Hazard is trying to make inroads but Cavanni falls back to prevent any danger. On the right flank Oscar has a shy but with no effect.

4" GOAL! Ezequiel Lavezzi puts hosts PSG in front after a poor clearance by Terry.

PSG 1 (Lavezzi 4") Chelsea 0

PSG are set to get the game started which they do in front of their home crowd.

A loud roar greets the players as they come out into the middle.

Countdown begins with just five minutes to go as the players are back in the tunnel.

Kick-off in Paris is just 10 minutes away.

We are just 15 minutes away from a cracker of a match.

Hugs all round as Jose Mourinho has a stop-and-chat with his former players Zlatan and Thiago Motta. Motta won the big trophy with Jose in 2010 for Inter and starts in midfield for the Parisians tonight.

Both teams limber up on the field with the cameramen chasing the player they think could make the difference. Yes, it's Zlatan Ibrahomovic who is the centre of attraction at the Parc des Princes.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has surprisingly left Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres on the bench and has gone ahead with Schurrle and Willian, while Zlatan will lead the hosts' line alongside record signing Edinson Cavani.

TEAMS

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Terry, Willian, Ramires, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard.

Subs: Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Ba, Schwarzer.

PSG: Sirigu, Jallet, Maxwell, Motta, Alex, Thiago Silva, Verratti, Matuidi, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Lavezzi.

Subs: Douchez, Cabaye, Marquinhos, Digne, Rabiot.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).

TEAM NEWS

Fernando Torres is likely to start up front for Chelsea's Champions League last-eight first leg against Paris St. Germain with Samuel Eto'o injured.

Eto'o has not recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the 6-0 win over Arsenal on March 22.

Left-back Ashley Cole is out with a knee injury while Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are cup-tied.

PSG have a slight doubt over defender Thiago Silva who is likely to play in a mask after fracturing a cheekbone.

STAT ATTACK

Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Chelsea have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

PSG are undefeated in 15 of their last 16 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Chelsea's last 4 games in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

PREVIEW

Paris Saint-Germain are in the best possible form of their lives.

And why not, in Zlatan Ibrahimovic they have the world’s best striker who could be spoken about in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Swede, with 40 goals in all competitions, towers head and shoulders above the rest by setting a club record.

And, with goals coming from those big boots thick and fast, Chelsea will have to find ways to keep him quiet as the two clubs clash tonight in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Parc des Princes.

Aware of Ibra’s shooting prowess from any angle, the Chelsea coach made no secret of the players he will task with keeping the tall and strapping striker under wraps when he named his back four and goalkeeper in advance.

“(Petr) Cech, (Branislav) Ivanovic, (Gary) Cahill, (John) Terry, (Cesar) Azpilicueta,” will do duty,” he said with a smile.

Mourinho categorically stated on Tuesday that Ibra will be remembered as one of the game’s greatest players despite never gracing the English Premier League.

With the title at home slowly slipping away from Chelsea’s grasp - they lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday - the Portuguese coach is now focusing on the Champions League but is aware that his task is cut out what with Samuel Eto’o sidelined due to hamstring injury.

However, Mourinho’s experience at this level is second to none, and that could give the English club the edge.

The Chelsea coach won the European Cup with Porto in 2004 and Inter in 2010 and if he can do the same with Chelsea he would become the first coach to win it with three different clubs.

A man with words, Mourinho was quick to put the ball in PSG’s court by saying they have some of the best players in the world. “They are big, big, big candidates,” he said.

"It's a team full of fantastic strikers and goalscorers and that is what makes the difference at this level."