50 legendary matches: First European steps!
As part of the 50th anniversary of the club, PSG.FR offers you the chance to relive some of the greatest matches in Paris Saint-Germain history. Today, we look back at the first European fireworks produced by the capital club, against Lokomotiv Sofia!
Two weeks earlier in the first leg in Sofia, the Parisians were far too timid and lost by the smallest of margins (1-0), in the first game played by the capital club in European competition. A result that still satisfied Georges Peyroche, persuaded his players could turn things around on the Parc des Princes pitch.
The Paris coach named a three-man attack composed of Toko, N’Gom and Kist, a teamsheet that revealed the ambition: all out attack! From the opening minutes, chances are created and logically enough Paris open the scoring when Toko ide-foots home a Bathenay cross as Paris launch themselves (1-0, 20')!
A one goal margin at the break, a miracle for an outclassed Lokomotiv Sofia. Georges Peyroche is furious that his players haven't been clinical enough and his worst fears are confirmed straight after the break when from their first chance the Bulgarians equalise through a precise Bogdanov shot (1-1, 47').
After long minutes of not very much, the match changes in an unexpected manner just after the hour. First of all Baratelli, used to saving his team, makes a splendid save to keep out a Velichkov shot (65'). Straight after that, capitain Dominique Bathenay, fires in a missile that gives his team the advantage again (2-1, 66')! It's still not enough to ensure qualification but the Parisians feel revived and multiply their attacks.
The Bulgarian defence ends up cracking 10 minutes from the end, on the receiving end of a Toko exploit. The Chadian attacker, from a Zaremba cross, gets over the ball and manages a perfect half-volley (3-1, 81'). The Bulgarians, impotent, can't avoid a debacle: the late Michel N’Gom breaks down the right and at the end of a wonderful solo run scores in turn (4-1, 85') before generously setting up the final goal of the game for Jean-Claude Lemoult (5-1, 89').
It's done: Paris have passed their first European test and they've delighted the Parc, scoring five goals. The final word goes to Toko, interviewed on the final whistle, whose reply sticks in the memory: "My goal? It's not the most beautiful of my career. I've scored a lot more spectacular goals than that in training. You should come to the Camp des Loges more often..."
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN - LOKOMOTIV SOFIA : 5-1 (1-0)
Cup Winners' Cup - Round of 32 second leg
Parc des Princes (Paris)
Referee: Mr. Brummeier (Austria)
Goals: Toko (20' et 81'), Bathenay (66'), N’Gom (85'), Lemoult (89') for Paris. Bogdanov (47') for Sofia.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Baratelli - Fernandez, Pilorget, Bathenay (cap.), Guillochon - Zaremba, Lemoult, Ardiles - Toko, Kist, N’Gom. Coach: G. Peyroche.
LOKOMOTIV SOFIA: Donev - Doudov (Vassiliev 75e), Lalov, Damianov, Markov - Arsov (cap.), Milanov, Doytchev, Bogdanov - Iliev, Velichkov. Coach: G. Berkov.