Mbappe Rescues PSG After Messi's Missed Penalty
16 February, 2022
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Real Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain got a narrow advantage in the last 16 tie against Real Madrid after a last-gasp 1-0 win in the first-leg at Parc des Princes.
The Parisians recalled Angel Di Maria, who joined Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in a front three, while Neymar recovered from his injury to start from bench. Los Blancos, meanwhile, were boosted by the return of Karim Benzema from injury, who spearheaded their attack.
Mauricio Pochettino's charges were asking all the questions in the opening exchanges and Mbappe came close to giving them the lead in the 18th minute after latching onto a long
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ball over the top and fired a good strike that was parried away by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Madrid were largely absorbing the pressure, even in the closing phase of the first stanza, as they frustrated the likes of Messi and the game remained deadlocked at half-time.PSG continued to cause problems for Madrid coming from the half-time break and they were awarded a penalty on the hour-mark after Dani Carvajal brought down Mbappe in the box.
Messi stepped up to take the penalty but his spot-kick was parried wide of the post by Courtois.
The hosts were threatening to get the winner especially after Neymar replaced Di Maria and Mbappe eventually got the decisive goal at the death after planting a strike into the bottom corner from a solo run.
Sporting CP 0-5 Manchester City
Manchester City are on the cusp of reaching the quarter-finals after drubbing Sporting CP 5-0 in the last 16 first-leg clash at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola made five changes to the side that thrashed Norwich City in the Premier League, as Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo were all recalled.
The Citizens had a perfect start after Mahrez had a goal awarded by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the seventh minute after finishing off a square pass by De Bruyne in the box.
City quickly doubled their lead in the 17th minute after Bernardo Silva latched onto a rebound in the box and fired a volley that went in off the crossbar.
Sporting had their backs against the wall, as Phil Foden made it 3-0 for the visitors just after the half-hour mark with a smashing strike in the box after taking Mahrez's cross into his stride.
Guardiola's charges were running riot, as Silva gave them a 4-0 lead at half-time and got his brace with a deflected strike at the near post after a cut-back by Raheem Sterling.
Silva had a goal disallowed by the VAR for City early in the second stanza with a header at the back post but Sterling eventually made it 5-0 just before the hour-mark with a stunning strike into the corner.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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