PSG v Chelsea
PSG's late surge overwhelms Chelsea in 1st leg
Paris Saint-Germain scored three goals in the final 20 minutes as the holders overwhelmed Chelsea 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Vitinha capitalized on an error from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen to put PSG ahead for the third time on the night in the 74th minute.
And substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia then added two more, including a sensational first goal, in the dying minutes to put PSG firmly in control ahead of the second leg at Chelsea next week.
In a repeat of last year's Club World Cup final, won by Chelsea, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé had twice put PSG in front. But Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernández equalised on each occasion for the visitors before Jorgensen's awful misjudgement helped PSG take control.
Jorgensen's pass was cut out easily by Barcola, Kvaratskhelia squared it and Vitinha chipped the stranded goalkeeper.
Kvaratskhelia curled in a brilliant fourth soon after then tapped in a fifth in stoppage time as the holders twisted the knife.
There was no suggestion Chelsea had come to Paris to keep it tight and stay in the tie. They came at the European champions with a high line and plenty pushed forward as they sought to play the game in the hosts' half.
They could have scored in the first few minutes, Reece James crossing low from the right but João Pedro failed to make good contact.
This though is a team prone to defensive lapses. They had already got away once with failing to deal with a ball as it bounced inside their box when PSG punished them.
Dembélé was given space on the right to cross, João Neves was left with room to nod it down for Barcola who controlled with his chest then thundered it in off the bar.
Chelsea have been accused of wilting in adversity but here they dug in and hit back. Fernandez's clever switch of the play found Gusto with virtually the freedom of the PSG box after Barcola switched off.
The defender took a touch and drilled it and though Matvei Safonov got a hand on it the ball bounced past him and in.
A wild 14-second spell ended with PSG retaking the lead.
Cole Palmer should have scored with a free effort hit straight at Safonov. The ball was cleared and in a flash Dembélé was streaking over the halfway line. Wesley Fofana recovered and got goal side but the Ballon d'Or winner turned him with some ease before sending a low finish into the corner.
Pedro Neto had shown in the first half that he had the beating of Marquinhos for pace and he showed the PSG captain his heels again to set up the equaliser, racing into the box and pulling back for Fernandez who rifled into the top corner.
PA contributed to this report.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Alejandro José Hernández Hernández

