Mountain to climb for Man United
Paris Saint Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Manchester United. No Neymar. No Edinson Cavani. No problem for Paris Saintgermain.
PSG handed Manchester United a reality check under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, winning 2-0 in the Champions League last-16 yesterday to inflict the interim manager’s first loss.
Angel Di Maria was the architect of both goals in the first leg on his return to Old Trafford as PSG more than coped without injured forwards Neymar and Cavani.
The winger’s corner was volleyed in by Presnel Kimpembe for his first PSG goal in the 53rd minute. After having a bottle thrown at him by United fans and taking a sip, Di Maria helped to complete a counterattack by crossing for the advancing Mbappe to score.
United will be without Paul Pogba in the second leg on March 7 in Paris after he received a second yellow card in the 89th minute for a lunge on Dani Alves.
Not only was it a first loss for Solskjaer in his 12th match since replacing Jose Mourinho, but the heaviest home defeat for United in Europe, having previously only been beaten by one-goal margins.
In the day’s other last-16 game, teenager Nicolo Zaniolo scored twice to lead Roma to a 2-1 victory. Adrian Lopez scored for Porto. (Presnel Kimpembe 53’, Kylian Mbappe 60’). HT 0-0. HT: 0-0. (Nicolo
In Manchester: Paris Saintgermain 2
Manchester United 0 In Rome: AS Roma 2 FC Porto 1
Zaniolo 70’, 76’) (Adrian Lopez 79’). HT: 0-0.