Ten-man PSG held as dogged Reims strike late
On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun ran via to attain a outstanding 96th-minute equaliser as Reims held 10-man Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
It appeared like Neymar’s strike early within the second half could be sufficient for PSG to take all three factors regardless of substitute Marco Verratti being despatched off shortly after that purpose.
However a powerful Reims facet acquired the draw they well-deserved when Balogun broke away to fireside dwelling proper on the loss of life.
The outcome sees the membership coached by 30-year-old Belgian-born Englishman Will Nonetheless lengthen their unbeaten run to 14 video games between league and cup.
They continue to be in mid-table however have now drawn with the Parisians twice this season, their collective energy permitting a staff of hungry younger gamers to carry their very own in opposition to PSG’s superstars.
PSG have now dropped factors in three of their 4 league video games in 2023, and whereas they continue to be three factors away from Lens on the prime of the desk, their type is a priority with the primary leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in opposition to Bayern Munich now little over two weeks away.
“Total we clearly cannot be glad with our efficiency. It isn’t a query of worrying however we have to get again to successful methods rapidly and play rather more as a staff than we’re in the intervening time,” coach Christophe Galtier informed broadcaster Amazon Prime.
“To concede a purpose after 95 minutes with the variety of skilled gamers we have now — it’s damaging for us by way of the factors dropped however additionally it is very shocking.”
Galtier fielded Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar all collectively in his beginning line-up for the primary time because the World Cup as PSG took to the sector sporting their fourth equipment with gamers’ names in Mandarin to mark the Lunar New 12 months.
Actually PSG lined up in a 4-2-4 formation initially with Carlos Soler becoming a member of the famous person attacking trio and enjoying on the precise wing.
– Neymar scores, Verratti despatched off –
But they sorely missed Verratti in midfield with the Italian left on the bench within the first half as Reims appeared the extra harmful facet.
He got here on on the break and so they took the lead within the 51st minute as a Messi shot got here off Achraf Hakimi and fell to Neymar, who duly transformed his seventeenth purpose of the season.
Nevertheless, PSG had been decreased to 10 males shortly after amid a lot confusion.
Reims had been initially awarded a penalty for a foul by Marquinhos on Balogun within the field, however a VAR intervention led to the referee sending-off Verratti for a harmful sort out on Junya Ito within the build-up after which cancelling the penalty for an offside.
PSG then noticed Sergio Ramos head off the bar earlier than Hakimi had a purpose disallowed for offside.
It appeared like they might maintain on for the victory however, with the allotted 5 added minutes having been performed, Kamory Doumbia despatched Balogun away and the England Beneath-21 striker rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma and completed emphatically for his eleventh Ligue 1 purpose this season.
“We performed like a staff, a staff that was prepared, proud and who weren’t afraid to play right here,” mentioned Nonetheless, who has not misplaced a sport since being promoted to the position of head coach following the departure of Oscar Garcia in October.
“We had no complexes. I feel the purpose we conceded was a bit annoying however that’s a part of the sport and we held on in there, maintained hope and had been rewarded on the finish.”
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