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Rediff.com  » Sports » Soccer Briefs: Mbappe scores stunner but sees red in PSG win

Soccer Briefs: Mbappe scores stunner but sees red in PSG win

September 02, 2018 08:51 IST
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A summary of Saturday's action in Ligue 1, Serie A and La Liga.

IMAGE: Kylian Mbappe scores Paris St Germain's third goal against Nimes Olympique in the Ligue 1 match on Saturday. Photograph: Emmanuel Foudrot/Reuters

France forward Kylian Mbappe struck a second-half stunner before being sent off late on as champions Paris St Germain maintained their 100 percent Ligue 1 record with a 4-2 victory at promoted Nimes Olympique on Saturday.

 

World Cup winner Mbappe scored with a powerful volley in the 77th minute to put PSG up 3-2 after Neymar and Angel di Maria's first-half strikes were cancelled out by Antonin Bobichon and Teji Savanier.

Edinson Cavani made it 4-2 in added time to seal a fourth win in as many league matches for PSG under their new manager Thomas Tuchel.

But PSG's victory was soured as Mbappe was sent off in the third minute of extra time after clashing with Savanier, who was also dismissed, following a late tackle by the Nimes midfielder.

Earlier, Neymar put PSG ahead in the 36th minute with his fourth goal of the season. Four minutes later, Di Maria produced a moment of magic by curling the ball directly into goal from a corner.

Nimes were not done yet and clawed their way back in the second half with a well taken goal from distance by winger Bobichon and Savanier's penalty which was awarded after the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

However, PSG were rewarded for their relentless attacking and their superior quality up front helped them ease to victory. Tuchel's side are top of the league table after four games and could be joined on 12 points by Dijon who face Caen later.

Another blank for Ronaldo as Juventus win again

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after his header goes looping over the bar during Juventus's victory over Parma. Photograph: Alberto Lingria/Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo was left waiting for his first Juventus goal after drawing another blank as the title-holders won 2-1 at Parma in Serie A on Saturday to maintain their 100 percent record.

An early Mario Mandzukic goal and a second-half strike from Blaise Matuidi gave Juve their third win in as many league games this season, although Ronaldo was left without a goal in his first 270 minutes with the Turin side.

Ivorian forward Gervinho scored in between for Parma, his first goal since joining them in the close season.

Earlier on Saturday, Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan scored on his injury-delayed debut to set them on the way to their first win of the season as they beat Bologna 3-0 away.

“(Ronaldo) has to deal with different difficulties in Serie A but he had a good game overall,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri. “The international break will make him sharper.

“He’s the world’s best player, he wants to score at all costs but he needs to remain calm and the goals will come in a burst.”

Juventus got the perfect start when Mandzukic’s header from a Juan Cuadrado cross hit Simone Iacoponi and rebounded kindly to the Croatian forward who turned the ball into the empty net.

Ronaldo sent a header looping over the bar with his first goal attempt but Parma, who have been to the fourth tier and back since beating Juve 1-0 in their last meeting in 2015, forced their way back into the game.

Leo Stulac thumped a free kick against the crossbar before Gervinho levelled in the 33rd minute, turning the ball in with his knee after Roberto Inglese flicked on Massimo Gobbi’s cross.

Juventus took control after halftime and French World Cup winner Matuidi struck the winner from Mandzukic’s flick just before the hour.

Ronaldo kept trying but it was a frustrating night for him as Parma cut off the supply lines and prevented him getting in any of his dipping long-range shots.

The forward’s best chance came when a loose ball landed at his feet but Ronaldo shot wide and was also left frustrated when Parma goalkeeper Luigi Sepe managed to intercept a cross and took the ball off his head.

Parma were relegated from Serie A in 2015 and declared bankrupt, then re-entered the league in the fourth tier and won three successive promotions.

Inter had taken one point from their opening two games and struggled again for more than one hour against a dogged but uninspiring Bologna before heavily-tattoed Belgian Nainggolan, who missed their first two games injured, came to the rescue. 

Inter’s key close-season signing, who signalled a warning by firing a volley over the bar before halftime, collected a pass from Matteo Politano inside the area, controlled it with his left foot and drove the ball home from 12 metres with his right.

Antonio Candreva, with his first Serie A goal since April last year, and Croatia World Cup forward Ivan Perisic added two more goals in the last 10 minutes as Inter cantered home, finally beginning to look like title contenders.

Inter, who have moved onto four points, won without captain Mauro Icardi and new signing Lautaro Martinez, who are both injured. Bologna, under former AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi, have only one point and are yet to score.

Real Madrid extend perfect start, Atletico lose at Celta

IMAGE: Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring Real Madrid's fourth goal from the penalty spot. Photograph: Javier Barbancho/Reuters

Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the Liga season by thrashing neighbours Leganes 4-1 at the Bernabeu helped by a Karim Benzema double, while Atletico Madrid slumped to a 2-0 defeat away to Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Gareth Bale scored for the third game running to give the hosts the lead in the 17th minute but Leganes pulled level with a penalty as Real debutant Thibaut Courtois was powerless to stop Guido Carillo’s spot kick in the 24th.

Benzema headed Real back in front shortly after the interval although the goal was only given after the referee consulted the video assistant referee (VAR) to determine whether the French striker had committed a foul.

Benzema then struck his fourth goal in two league games from a delightful backheel by newly-crowned UEFA Player of the year Luka Modric, moving to within one strike of equalling his tally of five league goals over the whole of last season.

The Frenchman had the opportunity to complete a hat-trick when Madrid were awarded a penalty after lively winger Marco Asensio was tripped by Unai Bustinza, but captain Sergio Ramos took responsibility for the spot-kick and completed the rout by scoring for the second game in a row from the spot.

Real lead the standings with nine points and 10 goals, although champions Barcelona can match that perfect start when they host top flight debutants Huesca on Sunday.

Diego Simoene’s Atletico suffered their first major setback of the season with the reverse at Celta following a hapless second half display in which they conceded two goals in quick succession and had defender Stefan Savic sent off.

Celta’s Uruguayan striker Maxi Gomez put the Galicians ahead after the break after a slip by compatriot Diego Godin and Iago Aspas doubled the lead in the 52nd with a header the day after being dropped from Spain’s squad by new coach Luis Enrique.

Things got worse for Atletico after 70 minutes as Montenegro defender Savic was dismissed for a second booking and a minute later they thought they had conceded again but Gustavo Cabral’s effort was ruled offside by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Atletico have four points from their opening three games and are already five adrift of local rivals Real in the title race.

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