Tuchel’s PSG hit the right note
Postolachi’s injury-time winner hands Paris giants win over Atletico
July 30: Virgiliu Postolachi’s injury-time strike handed Thomas Tuchel his first win as Paris SaintGermain coach after a pulsating 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Monday.
Postolachi, 18, curled a stunning shot past Antonio Adan to settle the friendly after Atletico had recovered from 2-0 down, helped by Antoine Bernede’s own goal on 86 minutes.
PSG welcomed back Angel di Maria after World Cup duty and Italy’s Marco Verratti, but it was Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby who put them 2-0 up before Victor Mollejo pulled one back for Atletico.
The win was welcome for German newcomer Tuchel, whose understrength French champions have fallen 3-1 and 5-1 to Bayern Munich and Arsenal in their previous pre-season friendlies.
Nkunku’s tap-in on 32 minutes was the highlight of a drab first half. The 20year-old midfielder was on hand to gobble up the rebound after a strong hint of a defensive handball in the Atletico box.
The lead was deserved for PSG, who had most of the play but created few clear chances apart from a long-range Di Maria free kick and Nkunku’s header from a Colin Dagba shot.
But Atletico were dangerous on the break. Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto both had shots blocked on the line and Kevin Gameiro fired over when one-on-one with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
PSG changed nine outfield players at half-time — a number that rose to 11 by 60 minutes, including an injury to substitute Alec Georgen — as the game opened up markedly.
Eighteen-year-old Tim Weah was denied by Antonio Adan and Adan then saved from Moussa Diaby — who rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box shortly afterwards.
But Diaby, 19, was not to be denied and made no mistake when he was selflessly put through by Weah on 71 minutes, planting his shot low and to Adan’s left.
Atletico had twice come close at the other end and they finally scored on 76 minutes when Victor Mollejo stuck the rebound from his own shot past Trapp. And with four minutes to go, they had a huge slice of luck when Borja Garces’s cross deflected off the helpless Bernede and into the PSG goal.
The game looked like it was headed for a draw until Postolachi popped up with the decisive strike from the top of the penalty area. — AFP
The win was welcome for German newcomer Tuchel, whose understrength French champions have fallen 3-1 and 5-1 to Bayern Munich and Arsenal in their previous pre-season friendlies.