Injury time goal earns PSG a deserved draw

Posted on April 3, 2013 by SoccerPunter

Barcelona were caught napping towards the end of the match as Blaise Matuidi gave PSG a deserved 2-2 draw in Champions League quarter-final 1st leg match.

Matuidi fires from the edge of the penalty box to put the game level at injury time.

Barcelona could have won the Champions League match after Xavi Hernandez scored from the penalty kick as a result of a foul by PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu on Alexis Sanchez.

FIFA World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, gave Barcelona the lead in the first half but he was substituted at half-time after suffering a hamstring injury. Messi‘s absence was felt as Barcelona attack was muted in the second half.

Ibrahimovic, who had an unhappy one season spell with Barca, put PSG back in the game when pouncing on a rebound after a Thiago Silva header in the 79th minute ricocheted off the far post.

Matuidi then popped up in the fourth minute of injury time to give PSG hope for the return leg at the Camp Nou next week.

PSG had come desperately close to taking the lead inside five minutes when Ezequiel Lavezzi saw a shot from inside the area take a touch off Sergio Busquets and hit the post.

The wealthy France Ligue 1 club’s coach Carlo Ancelotti gave football fans a big surprise when he chose to start former England captain David Beckham ahead of the young Italian Marco Verratti.

It was the 37-year-old midfielder’s first Champions League appearance since coming on as a substitute for AC Milan in a 4-0 drubbing by former club Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2010.

Beckham, speaking to ITV television, reflected: “In the first half, especially the first ten minutes we had a few very good chances, then they got their goal, it was an uphill battle but I think we deserved a draw tonight.”

On being named in the starting line-up he said: “The manager has shown a lot of confidence in me in games and in big moments, tonight was a big moment for the club.

“I’m pretty much at the same level as I was at AC Milan, it was only three years ago, I’m enjoying being part of these nights again, they don’t get better than this.”

On PSG’s prospects to qualify for the semi-finals he added: “Our chances are better than they were at 2-1 – it’s going to be difficult but no reason not to go there and get a result.”

And ever the gentleman, he offered good wishes to the injured Lionel Messi, saying: “We all hope Messi is fit and ready to go – we wish him the best.”

While they maintain the upper hand thanks to their two away goals, this was not a good night for the Spanish Primera Division leaders with the extent of Messi’s injury due to be revealed when he undergoes tests on Wednesday.