Sports
Source: BBC Sport
PARIS St-Germain scraped through to the Champions League knockout phase after 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery’s goal earned a priceless draw at already-qualified Borussia Dortmund.
With Newcastle and AC Milan ready to pounce on a slip-up by PSG, Dortmund led when Karim Adeyemi steered in.
But Zaire-Emery drilled home five minutes later and it was enough to put the French champions into the last 16.
PSG’s spot was secured by Milan fighting back to win at Newcastle.
German side Dortmund finished top of Group F with 11 points, while PSG join them in the pot for Monday’s draw after ending up with eight points.
PSG have long targeted winning the Champions League as a symbolic triumph of their transformation under Qatari ownership, and this result ensures their place in the knockout stages for a 12th successive season.
However, winning the trophy has continued to elude them. The nearest the Parisians have come to achieving their ultimate goal was four seasons ago when they lost to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.
While they have been shorn of mercurially-talented pair Neymar and Lionel Messi this season, PSG still can rely on Kylian Mbappe to provide match-defining moments as they aim to finally win Europe’s premier club competition.
Only an incredible sliding block from Dortmund defender Niklas Sule stopped Mbappe putting the French side ahead before the break, while Bradley Barcola hit the post and Randal Kolo Muani twice fired wide in one-on-ones with Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel.
Dortmund also had chances through Marco Reus and Adeyemi in an entertaining first half which somehow remained goalless.
Adeyemi made amends for his glaring miss when he swept in Niclas Fullkrug’s pass shortly after the restart and, with Newcastle beating Milan, PSG were on course to face a chastening group-stage exit.
But Mbappe’s brilliance helped get them back level in Dortmund and ultimately keep their Champions League dream alive.
The 24-year-old France forward used his sharp movement and trickery to stretch the Dortmund defence, who could not clear their lines and allowed Zaire-Emery to fire in the equaliser.
Mbappe also had what could have been the winner – another run and precise finish – ruled out by the tightest of offside calls.
With news filtering through about Milan’s fightback, the pace slowed down as both Dortmund and PSG saw out a draw which suited both teams.
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December 14, 2023 @ 11:23 GMT|
Tags: Warren Zaire-Emery
