By Daily Sports on December 12, 2018
Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after winning 4-1 at Red Star Belgrade to top Group C.
First-half goals from Edinson Cavani and Neymar set the French champions on their way, before a bullet header from Marquinhos, Kylian Mbappe’s injury-time strike and Liverpool beating Napoli 1-0 ensured first place in the group after Marko Gobeljic pulled one back for the hosts early in the second half.
Thomas Tuchel’s side finished the group stage on 11 points, two ahead of second-placed Liverpool and Napoli, who were eliminated due to their defeat at Anfield.
PSG had Red Star on the back foot from the start, and their blistering attacking trio of Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani didn’t waste time in putting the away side ahead.
Just eight minutes were on the clock when Cavani tapped Mbappe’s pass into an open goal, after the French teenage sensation met the excellent Marco Verratti’s through ball, brushed Filip Stojkovic aside, before slipping a perfect pass for the Uruguayan.
Red Star captain Stojkovic had a torrid evening, and Neymar made light work of the 25-year-old on his way to a wonderful solo goal in the 31st minute, dribbling into the box and sitting down the hosts' keeper Milan Borjan before lifting the second into the net.
The Ligue 1 leaders should have been out of sight three minutes before the break, but Mbappe wasted an excellent chance to make it three, again bursting through past Stojkovic on the left only to fluff his shot into the side netting.
Red Star came out firing in the second half, and could have scored twice before Gobeljic smashed past Gianluigi Buffon in the 56th minute to set the Rajko Mitic stadium ablaze with noise.
However Marquinhos snuffed their enthusiasm out when he met Di Maria’s beautiful deep free-kick to make sure of the three points with 17 minutes remaining.
Mbappe’s neat finish as the final seconds ticked away and Liverpool’s win were the icing on the cake for PSG. (SuperSport)
•Photo shows PSG players
Source Daily Sports
Posted December 12, 2018
You may also like...
CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba, Rangers Get Play-Offs Opponents...
Ronaldo Double Fires Juventus Into Second Place
Corruption: Buhari orders Amaju Pinnick’s prosecution; CAF seat...
Real Madrid Return With Convincing Win Over Eibar...
Boniface, Tella strike fear in De Rossi
Aribo Back To His Best For Rangers After...

Khan warns Paul ahead ‘life-threatening’ Joshua fight
Emery's perseverance & belief key to Villa resurgence
Agu backs Okoye for Eagles No. 1 spot
PFL contract ends soon - Ngannou
'No-one downing tools' - Alonso's stay of execution despite loss to Man City
Zaha in Ivory Coast Afcon squad but Adingra left out
UCL: Mbappé doubtful for Manchester City clash after missing training
'Give Alonso time' - but Man City visit could be pivotal
Fifa accused of breaching own rules with Trump award
Son, Simons and mini Spurs revival lift Frank's spirits
Finidi challenges Rivers United players’ mentality
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,402 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,646 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,587 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,219 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,194 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,105 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,950 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,534 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,676 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,224 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,618 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,090 views)