Messi Subbed Off On Home Debut, Mbappe Booed
20 September, 2021
Lionel Messi was taken off during his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain, who extended their perfect record in Ligue 1 after defeating Olympique Lyon on Sunday night.
Ligue 1
Result: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Olympique Lyon
Date: 19 September 2021
Venue: Parc de Princes
Messi was given his full debut on home soil, while Kylian Mbappe received another icy reception from the home fans after the recent transfer saga.
The Argentine nearly got his first goal on 17 minutes after great link-up play with Mbappe on the edge of the box, but his low strike was kept out by Anthony Lopes.
It was one-way traffic in the first half as PSG went in search of the opening goal, with Messi going even closer on 37 minutes with a free-kick that crashed against the upright.
Lyon, meanwhile, were unable to get a hold of the ball for long periods in the first stanza which left Algeria international Islam Slimani isolated against Marquinhos and Prensel Kimpembe.
However, the home fans were stunned into silence on 54 minutes when Lucas Paqueta opened the scoring for Lyon with his third league goal of the season after being set up by Karl Toko Ekambi.
PSG were given a lifeline just after the hour mark when Gusto was adjudged to have fouled Neymar, who took responsibility and converted the spot-kick to level matters.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Mauricio Pochettino opted to withdraw Messi for Achraf Hakimi as the Argentine is now three games without a goal for the club.
Pochettino's troops threw everything forward in search of a winning goal, and they were rewarded in the third minute of stoppage time as fellow substitute Mauro Icardi was picked out by Mbappe before head past Lopes.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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