Paris through to play-offs with a win
A second half goal from Arnaud Kalimuendo saw Paris Saint-Germain qualify for the last-16 play-offs of the UEFA Youth League, with a 1-0 win over Crvena Zvezda in freezing conditions at the FK Cukaricki Stadion on Tuesday.
With news earlier in the day that Group C leaders Liverpool had disposed of Napoli 5-0, the result at the FK Cukaricki Stadion mattered little with Paris already sure of heading into the play-offs against one of eight national champions entering the draw for a place in the last-32.
In their habitual 4-3-3 formation, Paris made a positive start with Alexandre Fressange (3’, 8’, 16’) and Adil Aouchiche (6’) both going close to an early goal. Paris goalkeeper Will-Cesaire Matimbou, making his first start in the Youth League, was called into action for the first time 20 minutes in, as the home side came back into the game, cheered on by several hundred brave souls.
Scoreless at the break, the hosts should have taken the lead just after the hour mark when Burmaz sprung the offside trap, only to be denied one-on-one by a fine stop from Matimbou (61’). Paris U19 coach Thiago Motta made four second-half changes, and after a chance to Tanguy Coulibaly (77’), it was another substitute Kalimuendo that capitalised on a mistake by the Crvena Zvezda ‘keeper to net his fifth goal of the campaign and settle the matter in Paris’ favour.
The draw for the play-off will be held on 17 December 2018, with the one-off knockout games to be played on 19 and 20 February next year.
FK Crvena Zvezda 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (H-T: 0-0)
FK Cukaricki Stadion, Belgrade
Goals: Kalimuendo (P) 83’
FK Crvena Zvezda: Gordic; Kukolj, Milikic, Erakovic, Terzic (c); Velikic (Dordevic 53’), Ajdinovic (Puletic 82’), Stojanovic, Jocic; Burmaz (Radulovic 68’), Babic (Stojancic, 53’)
Paris Saint-Germain: Matimbou; Makulungu (Yapi 73’), Kouassi, Nya (c), Larkeche ; Fadiga, Williams (Ruiz-Atil 65’), Aouchiche ; Providence (Coulibaly 65’), Fressange, Yaisien (Muinga 73’)