toptop
Zlatan
Ibrahimovic scored one and set up another as Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea
2-1 (4-2 on aggregate) to knock the Blues out of the Champions League for the
second year running on Wednesday night.
Adrien Rabiot swept home the striker's cross to put PSG on their way to the
quarter-finals after 16 minutes at Stamford Bridge, before Diego Costa gave
Chelsea hope with a fine finish before half-time.
Willian and Eden Hazard forced PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp into a double save
after the break as Chelsea pushed for the goal that would send the tie to extra
time, but Ibrahimovic volleyed home Angel Di Maria's low delivery to book the
Ligue 1 side's place in the next round.
The visitors were on top for large periods as they controlled more than 60 per
cent possession on the night, and there was potentially more bad news for the
hosts as Costa and Hazard both appeared to pick up injuries and were replaced in
the second half.
More to follow...Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one and set up another as Paris
Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 2-1 (4-2 on aggregate) to knock the Blues out of the
Champions League for the second year running on Wednesday night.
Adrien Rabiot swept home the striker's cross to put PSG on their way to the
quarter-finals after 16 minutes at Stamford Bridge, before Diego Costa gave
Chelsea hope with a fine finish before half-time.
Willian and Eden Hazard forced PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp into a double save
after the break as Chelsea pushed for the goal that would send the tie to extra
time, but Ibrahimovic volleyed home Angel Di Maria's low delivery to book the
Ligue 1 side's place in the next round.
The visitors were on top for large periods as they controlled more than 60 per
cent possession on the night, and there was potentially more bad news for the
hosts as Costa and Hazard were both replaced in the second half with injury
concerns.
With a slender one-goal advantage from the first-leg in Paris, Laurent Blanc
recalled five players from their goalless draw against Montpellier on Saturday,
including Ibrahimovic, and the striker had the ball in the net after just seven
minutes.
A fast start from the Parisians caught Chelsea cold as Di Maria first went
close, before Ibrahimovic was correctly ruled offside after latching on to
Thiago Motta's header and slotting past Thibaut Courtois.
But they didn't have to wait long to extend their aggregate lead as Rabiot held
off the challenge of Cesar Azpilicueta to slide home Ibrahimovic's pass.
Blanc's side were in control as they looked to put the tie beyond their
opponents but were pegged back against the run of play by Costa's low finish
just before the half-hour mark.
Chelsea's high pressing was causing PSG problems and when Pedro robbed Motta,
Willian was in. The Brazilian picked out Costa, who turned Thiago Silva before
firing low past Trapp to score for the fifth consecutive match at Stamford
Bridge.
The Premier League side ended the first-half on the front foot as Hazard and
Costa drew saves from the PSG goalkeeper, and Di Maria, Motta and Lucas Moura
were each guilty of surrendering possession in dangerous areas as Chelsea
squeezed the space.
The Blues were dealt a blow after the interval when Costa was forced off with
what appeared to be a muscular injury, but Trapp was still called into action to
deny Willian and Hazard in quick succession as Chelsea looked to keep their
hopes of progression alive.
However, they were all but ended on 67 minutes when Ibrahimovic turned home Di
Maria's inch-perfect cross from close range for PSG's 100th goal of the season
in all competitions.
And with 15 minutes to play Hazard pulled up on the left touchline, capping a
difficult evening for Guus Hiddink's side, who are now left with the FA Cup as
their only shot at silverware this season. They face Everton at Goodison Park in
the quarter-finals on Saturday.
As for PSG, they will wait to see who joins them in the last-eight of the
Champions League after they became the fourth team to earn their spot, joining
Real Madrid, Benfica and Wolfsburg.
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic (c), Kenedy,
Mikel, Fabregas, Pedro, Willian, Hazard (Oscar 76), Costa (Traore 59)
Subs Not Used Begovic, Baba, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Remy
Booked Fabregas, Mikel, Ivanovic
Goals Costa 27
Paris Saint-Germain Trapp, Marquinhos, Silva (c), Luiz,
Maxwell, Rabiot, Motta, Matuidi (van der Wiel 86), di Maria (Cavani 81),
Ibrahimovic, Moura (Pastore 76)
Subs Not Used Singu, Stambouli, Kurzawa, Augustin
Booked Motta, Rabiot, Matuidi
Goals Rabiot 16, Ibrahimovic 67
Attendance 37,591
Referee Felix Brych (Germany)