Paris St-Germain (PSG) took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their quarter-final clash at Parc des Princes last night.
In a pulsating encounter, it was Aston Villa who shocked the home crowd by taking the lead in the 35th minute. Young winger Morgan Rogers finished smartly at the back post after a swift counter-attack, latching onto a perfect cross from Youri Tielemans. The goal briefly stunned PSG and delighted the travelling Villa fans.
However, Villa’s lead lasted only four minutes. PSG responded in style when Desire Doue produced a moment of brilliance, curling a stunning shot from outside the box into the top corner, leaving Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with no chance.
PSG emerged from the break full of intent, and their attacking pressure paid off just four minutes into the second half. Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a constant menace on the night, showed his quality by turning past Villa defender Axel Disasi before rifling a powerful shot past Martinez at the near post to make it 2-1.
Despite Villa’s best efforts and some excellent saves from Martinez, Unai Emery’s side struggled to contain PSG’s attacking talent. Their hopes of escaping Paris with just a one-goal deficit were dashed deep into stoppage time when Nuno Mendes sealed the win for PSG. The Portuguese full-back latched onto a precise pass from Ousmane Dembélé inside the box, coolly finishing to hand the French champions a vital two-goal advantage ahead of the second leg.
The late goal was a hammer blow for Aston Villa, who will now face an uphill battle when they host PSG at Villa Park in the return leg. For PSG, the victory not only puts them in control of the tie but also sends a strong message to their European rivals.
