Saturday, August 9, 2014

IBRAHIMOVIC'S BRACE SECURE A POINT FOR PSG IN LIGUE 1 OPENER

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice but also missed a penalty as the reigning French ligue 1 champions Paris St-Germain opened their 2014-15 Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-2 draw at Reims on Friday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action for Paris St-Germain
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals and also a missed penalty
The 32-year-old Sweden striker volleyed PSG into an early lead when he linked up well with Javier Pastore to beat Reims goalkeeper Johny Placide in the sixth minute but he then blasted the ball against the post just over 10 minutes later with an open goal at his mercy.
The Reims keeper made amends when he saved Ibrahimovic's spot kick soon after, before team-mate Prince Oniangue equalised from close range.
Antoine Devaux put Reims ahead but Ibrahimovic's lob rescued a point in the 64th-minute.
It had all started so well for PSG's talismanic striker when he fired the visitors ahead early in the first half.
Edinson Cavani laid the ball off to Pastore who passed it on to Ibrahimovic who was rushing towards the goal, only breaking his stride to fire between the keepers' legs.
He then missed the chance to claim a two-goal lead in the 18th minute when he smashed an effort against the post before he was unable to beat Placide from the penalty spot moments later after he had been brought down by Michael Tacalfred in the area.
Reims then levelled the score at 1-1 when Oniangue struck from close range following a Diego free-kick.
The home side went into half-time ahead after Devaux fired in from 20 yards following some great build-up play with Gaetan Charbonnier to stun the PSG defenders and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
PSG came out firing after the break, but they could only convert one chance into a goal.
That came in the 64th minute when another marvellous ball from Pastore from the left wing set up Ibrahimovic, who coolly controlled it and fired in from close range.
Cavani went close in the 77th minute but Placide was up to the challenge before the Uruguayan striker headed inches wide in stoppage time.
PSG could have snatched all three points in stoppage time but Aissa Mandi ensure a point for Reims when he cleared a 94th-minute volley by Clement Chantome off the line.
It was a relatively disappointing start for France champions PSG, but they are often slow starters.
They have not won the opening match of a season in the last four years.
They were also without a number of key players, with Brazil defender David Luiz, signed from Chelsea in the summer, missing along with Ezequiel Lavezzi, Maxwell, Blaise Matuidi and Yohan Cabaye.
All five are building up fitness after playing at the World Cup.



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