Manchester United somehow progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals with Marcus Rashford’s controversial late penalty seeing them overcome Paris Saint-Germain.
In truth, despite an unjust decision, PSG had only themselves to blame for letting an injury-ravaged United the chance to get back in the tie.
Romelu Lukaku made things interesting when he pounced on a poor Thilo Kehrer back pass to sweep United ahead inside two minutes.
That sparked the hosts into life and Kylian Mbappe dragged them back into it when he set up Juan Bernat to tap in. However, United retook the lead before the break when Lukaku scored his second – profiting from another mistake when he gleefully tapped in after Gianluigi Buffon spilled Marcus Rashford’s speculative effort.
Both teams threatened in the second half but Thomas Tuchel’s side looked to be heading into the last eight before the late intervention of VAR as Presnel Kimpembe was adjudged to have handballed. Rashford’s goal gave United a 3-1 win on the night and they went through on away goals.
Here we rate the PSG players:
PSG (3-4-2-1)
Gianluigi Buffon – 5: Horrendous gaffe from one of the game’s greats gifted United and Lukaku second, providing hope.
Thilo Kehrer – 4: Horrible back-pass handed the away side hope most felt unlikely. Endured a torrid evening. Taken off.
Thiago Silva – 7: As youngsters Kehrer and Kimpembe struggled in the rain, he was a tower of strength as usual.
Presnel Kimpembe – 6: Jointly led PSG with three tackles but Lukaku’s strength made him struggle. Handball was very harsh.
Dani Alves – 5: Wily veteran skied over as he relished getting forward with PSG pressing, but went missing as United gained a foothold.
Marquinhos – 6: Immense in shackling Paul Pogba in the first leg, he struggled against marauding Scott McTominay and Fred.
Marco Verratti – 7: A sublime footballer, tormented United early on before influence waned. Not quite fully fit?
Juan Bernat – 7: Gleefully ghosted in to tap in the equaliser, forcing another stop from David De Gea thereafter. Always an outlet.
Julian Draxler – 4: A sublime talent but so often you struggle to see his influence on games. As Mbappe and Di Maria threatened, he ambled. Injured.
Angel Di Maria – 8: Like in the away leg, always looked threatening, sending one fierce, fizzing effort wide in the first half. Four key passes in first half alone. Menacing.
Are you heartbroken like Mbappe 💔or celebrating like Rashford? 🔥 #PSGMUN #UCL pic.twitter.com/sBmjBo9rx3
— Goal (@goal) March 6, 2019
Kylian Mbappe – 7: Give him space and he’ll hurt you. Teed up Bernat and United’s defence was always nervous. Luckily he was largely sloppy after that.
SUBS:
Leandro Paredes – 6: Most meaningful contribution was a crude lunge on Andreas Pereira that yielded a yellow card.
Thomas Meunier – 6: Back from injury and lent pace to PSG’s right flank.
Edinson Cavani N/A: That he featured told you how PSG had thrown the tie away.
