Mbappe, Messi, Neymar rescue PSG after Maccabi early shock
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe set each other up and Neymar added a late goal, adding gloss to an otherwise disappointing performance as Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 at Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League.
After Maccabi midfielder Tjaronn Chery volleyed in a cross in the 24th minute, Messi gave a sloppy PSG side a much-needed equalizer from Mbappes cross from the right in the 37th. We fell asleep a bit and conceded the first goal. Then we were able to make the difference after that,” Mbappe said. I hope all three of us continue to score because it means well win games.
Messis exquisitely weighted pass then sent Mbappe running down the left in the 69th, and he clipped the ball into the bottom right corner for his third goal in two group games.
Neymar latched onto Marco Verrattis lofted pass from midfield in the 88th, controlled the ball on his right thigh and drilled it in to end a barren run in the Champions League dating back to December 2020.
PSG tops Group H with six points along with Benfica, which won 2-1 at Juventus in the other game. But this was a disjointed PSG performance at times against a Maccabi side inspired by the silky Chery.
We need to work hard and we need to improve quickly in the way we play, Mbappe told broadcaster Canal Plus. Wearing the No. 10 jersey but far less illustrious than PSGs No. 10, Neymar Chery went close to making it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime. With some brilliant improvisation that Neymar would have been proud of, Chery juggled the ball three times and then hit a fizzing 25-meter shot that PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma palmed away low down.
Mbappe missed a chance early on when he tried and failed to round Maccabis goalkeeper Joshua Cohen. Donnarumma then made a low save before the home side struck first.
When PSG carelessly lost the ball in midfield yet again 39 times in the first 30 minutes Maccabi moved it quickly to the right. Dolev Haziza whipped in a cross that Chery expertly volleyed in with his left foot from close range past a stranded Donnarumma.
As in previous seasons, PSGS team spirit was lacking and none of the stars responded until Mbappe burst down the left and clipped a deflected pass inside for Messi to guide the ball home in the 37th.
But Maccabi cut through PSGs weak midfield soon after the break and had two half-chances. Neymar seemed to lose patience with his teammates, chatting at length with Verratti and Marquinhos, but PSGs attack made the difference again.
Mbappe netted with two sharp volleys in PSGs 2-1 win against Juventus last week, while Maccabi opened the group stage with a 2-0 defeat at Benfica.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)
