In a thrilling stoppage-time equalizer, Jonathan David gave Lille a 1-1 draw with Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, negating Kylian Mbappe’s penalty kick.
On Sunday, Lille’s Jonathan David scored a thrilling stoppage-time equalizer against Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, canceling out Kylian Mbappe’s penalty. PSG appeared to be on course to take all three points back to Paris and open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table, but the 2021 champions fought back to gain a point and reclaim fourth position. “We played a very complete game for 80 minutes, and in the last 10 minutes, we lost control a little,” PSG coach Luis Enrique stated.
Paulo Fonseca, his opposite number, lauded his team’s spirit, saying, “We played an even match, and at the end we played a very brave 15 minutes.”
Mbappe had given PSG the lead midway through the second half, his 16th goal of the season, but David came up with a last-gasp equalizer four minutes into extra time.
Both teams had an intense first half-hour, but neither was able to work the opposing goalkeeper, with Ousmane Dembele and Edon Zhegrova dragging shots wide in promising positions.
Following brilliant play down the right by the pacy Dembele, Lille’s Lucas Chevalier had his fingertips pricked by a rasping Vitinha drive on 35 minutes.
The French forward wreaked havoc again from the subsequent short corner, as his driven cross was expertly cleared by Leny Yoro in the six-yard box with the goal gaping.
The game maintained its momentum into the second half, but PSG were given a wonderful opportunity to break the deadlock shortly after the hour mark when Bafode Diakite lunged into the back of Lucas Hernandez inside the Lille box.
Chevalier was correct in his prediction, but France captain Mbappe’s shot was too fast and precise for the stopper to get a hand on and prevent the Parisians from grabbing the lead in the 66th minute.
Yusuf Yazici had an excellent chance, but as he shot in plenty of space after Zhegrova’s cut-back, Marquinhos reacted to him swiftly and blocked a goal-bound effort away for a corner.
A free-kick near the area gave Lille a chance with one minute remaining, but Angel Gomes could only find the wall before seeing his follow-up effort charged down.
Arnau Tenas made a fantastic save with his legs, but was left helpless on the floor as David joyously headed home in what was practically the final action of the contest.
- Marseille maintains great form – Amir Murillo and Amine Harit scored twice in the first half to secure a 2-1 win for resurgent Marseille earlier on Sunday, as the south coast club continues to climb the standings.
Gennaro Gattuso’s men appeared to have the points wrapped up against bottom-placed Clermont until a Jim Allevinah strike cut the margin in half, but they hung on for their fourth consecutive league win with over 40 minutes remaining.
“I’m overjoyed today. “We played a great first half, both tactically and technically,” the Italian coach stated.
“In the second half, we suffered,” he said, noting that his charges’ less-than-impressive performance after halftime was owing to Thursday’s Europa League away defeat to Brighton.
He went on, “In the second half we suffered,” attributing his team’s lackluster performance after the break to Thursday’s Europa League away loss to Brighton.
“We went to bed at 5:30 am (after the tie)… when you lose that much energy, especially after a hard blow like the one we suffered at Brighton, things like that can happen.”
Just four minutes prior to the half-hour mark, Murillo was found in the box by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the defender skillfully controlled and rifled in a beautiful half-volley with his right foot.
In the 42nd minute, Aubameyang set up Iliman Ndiaye, whose shot was saved but fell to Harit, who scored flawlessly, giving the home team a two-goal lead.
In the 42nd minute, Aubameyang set up Iliman Ndiaye, whose shot was saved but fell to Harit, who scored flawlessly, giving the home team a two-goal lead.
On minute fifty-eight, Allevinah nodded in from a corner to offer Clermont a glimmer of hope. However, the goal proved to be a mere consolation as the hosts comfortably finished the game to go up to sixth.
Toulouse had earlier advanced one point ahead of Lyon, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, with a goalless draw at home against Rennes, and Brest, in fifth place, had triumphed 2-0 away from Nantes.
