The U19s beat Brugge in heroic fashion!
Two-nil and a man down at half-time, Paris Saint-Germain's U19s came through to win 3-2 against Club Brugge in the UEFA Youth League.
THE STARTING XI
Lavallée - Bitumazala, El Hannach, Bitshiabu, Bodiang - Kari, Michut - Gharbi, Simons, Gassama - Yansané
THE SCeNARIO
The two teams were looked together on 11 points at the top of the group with the same goal difference (+8), so it was winner takes top spot in Group A at the Stade Georges Lefèvre. They shared the spoils in their first game this season (2-2),
There was a big opportunity for Xavi Simons (6') early on, but it was the Belgians who struck first. Lucas Lavallée stopped a number of efforts before he was finally beaten by Mathis Servais (0-1, 19').
The Rouge-et-Bleu dug in and created themselves some opportunities, but handball by El Chadaille Bitshiabu, who was then sent off, led to a penalty that Arne Engels tucked away just before the break (0-2, 44').
A man down for the second half, the Parisians somehow still managed to turn it round. Simons reduced the deficit, providing a finishing touch to Warren Zaire-Emery's perfect cross (1-2, 69'). The roles were reversed just four minutes later when Simons delivered a free-kick for Zaire-Emery to head home (2-2, 73').
And the best was yet to come. After a flowing team move, Moutanabi Bodiang picked out Wilson Odobert, who headed home the winner in added time (3-2, 90+3'). Coach Zoumana Camara's changes - bringing on Odobert and Zaire-Emery in the second half - paid off handsomely as his team recorded an extraordinary win.
It means the Titis' European adventure continues into the Round of 16 without the team having to go through the play-offs. Those games will be played on 1/2 March, 2022, with the draw on 14 February.
NEXT UP
The U19s next match is at Orleans in the U19 National Championship in mid-January.