Warren Zaire-Emery wrote his name into the PSG history books by becoming their youngest ever goalscorer during a 3-1 win over Montpellier. The 16-year old rounded off the scoring at Stade de la Mosson, after earlier strikes from Fabian Ruiz and Lionel Messi.
It looked for a long time like it wasn’t going to be the league leaders’ night, given they had two penalties saved and a couple of goals disallowed, but they eventually found a way to a crucial three points in the title race.
Those spot kicks came after a foul on Sergio Ramos early on, but Benjamin Lecomte twice saved from Kylian Mbappe, who even got a second bite at the cherry after the goalkeeper moved off his line too soon.
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That pretty much proved to be Mbappe’s last act, as he limped off on 21-minutes, with Ramos following him down the tunnel shortly afterwards. To compound PSG’s misery, they also had a goal disallowed for offside against Lionel Messi.
The bad luck continued after the break when Achraf Hakimi had a terrific strike ruled out for offside, but two minutes later the full-back was involved as the deadlock was finally broken, with his initial shot saved, only for Fabian Ruiz to bundle home.
Ruiz then turned creator, sliding a wonderful pass to Messi, who delicately found the bottom corner by sliding it under the ‘keeper to put the game to bed. From then on, PSG dominated, but they were given a scare when Arnaud Nordin brilliantly curled home from the edge of the box.
However, substitute Zaire-Emery put the game to bed once and for all when he burst into space down the right and clinically fired into the far corner.
TALKING POINT – A night of misery for Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe came into this match with a stunning record against Montpellier, with his dozen previous appearances against them yielding 12 goals and eight assists.
You would therefore have been forgiven for thinking it was a foregone conclusion that he would net his first-half penalty, but the initial spot kick was at a nice height for the ‘keeper, and the second, although superbly saved, resulted in him blasting the rebound over an empty goal.
It really was a miserable night for the France international, who must now surely be a doubt for the Champions League round-of-16, which returns in a fortnight and sees PSG face Bayern Munich.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Lionel Messi (PSG)
As is so often the case, just when his team needed him, Messi came to the fore.
The World Cup winner, who grabbed the 500th league goal of his career, was brilliant after the break, consistently pulling the strings as he picked apart a sturdy Montpellier defence.
The way he took his goal was superb, as was the finish for the strike that was disallowed, and if it wasn’t for him, PSG might not have won quite so comfortably.
PLAYER RATINGS
MONTPELLIER: Lecomte 8; Kouyate 7, Jullien 7, Esteve 7; Maouassa 6, Sacko 6; Savanier 6, Chotard 6, Leroy 5; Germain 5, Mavididi 7. Subs: Ferri 6, Faye 6, Nordin n/a, Halhal n/a, Tchato n/a
PSG: Donnarumma 6; Hakimi 8, Marquinhos 7, Ramos 6, Mendes 6; Danilo 6, Vitinha 6, Ruiz 7; Soler 6, Mbappe 5, Messi 8. Subs: Ekitike 7, Sanches 7, Zaire-Emery 7, Bernat n/a
KEY MOMENTS
9’ PENALTY SAVED! Ramos is hauled down in the area by Jullien and it’s a PSG penalty. Mbappe steps up to take the penalty and Benjamin Lecomte dives the right way to save
10’ RETAKE…AND SAVED AGAIN! Oh my. Lecomte came off his line early so it’s a retake. Mbappe goes the other way, but the ‘keeper makes a stunning save, tipping onto the post, but the striker blasts the rebound over an open goal!
36’ GOAL DISALLOWED. Perhaps this isn’t going to be PSG’s night? Vitinha flicks on a cross into the box and it finds Messi at the back post. His touch is delightful, deftly clipping home, but the Argentine was offside!
53’ ANOTHER GOAL DISALLOWED! Achraf Hakimi nets a quite sublime strike from 25-yards, smashing into the top corner with the outside of his boot, but the goal is ruled out for an offside earlier in the move
55’ GOAL! MONTPELLIER 0-1 PSG (Ruiz) Well, this one must surely count! Hakimi has a shot saved, Ekitike heads the rebound back across and Fabian Ruiz is on hand to prod home. 1-0…at last!
72’ GOAL! MONTPELLIER 0-2 PSG (Messi). And that is surely game over. Wonderful stuff from the visitors, who turn on the style and grab a second as Ruiz plays a terrific pass to Messi, who slides the ball under the ‘keeper to make it 2-0
89’ GOAL! MONTPELLIER 1-2 PSG (Nordin). They’re back in it! The substitute, who’s only been on a matter of minutes, curls a beautiful shot into the far corner from the edge of the area. Donnarumma was motionless
90+2’ GOAL! MONTPELLIER 1-3 PSG (Zaire-Emery). That is that, surely. 16-year old Zaire-Emery gets his first PSG goal, the youngest ever for the club, by breaking into space down the right and firing home from inside the box. Clinical.
KEY STATS
- It’s now six home games without a win for Montpellier, suffering five defeats in the process
- PSG have now won eight of their last nine clashes with Montpellier, while the other game finished 2-2
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