Paris Saint-Germain’s return to the Champions League after an absence of eight years went better than their Qatari owners could have imagined on Tuesday, with goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Alex and Javier Pastore helping see off Dynamo Kiev 4-1.
Ibrahimovic gave the French capital outfit the lead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute of the Group A encounter and Thiago Silva then marked his long-anticipated debut with a goal just before the half-hour mark.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side put the game to bed before the interval thanks to a thumping effort from their other Brazilian centerback Alex, although Miguel Veloso pulled one back for Dynamo late on, but there was still time for Pastore to add a fourth and underline PSG’s status as favorites to win a group that is, on paper, one of the easiest in the competition.
Photo: AFP
“It was good, not just because of the result, but for us to have a performance like tonight is good for our confidence and for the atmosphere in the squad,” said Ancelotti, whose side travel to Porto for their next group game in two weeks. “It was important to win this game, but we can say nothing more than that because we have to play Porto next and that will not be easy.”
Meanwhile, his Dynamo counterpart Yuri Semin was scathing in his criticism of his side’s defending in the first half.
“They are a very, very good team, one of the best we could have faced, but we didn’t show all we can do and were not good enough at dead balls,” Semin said. “At this level, you can’t play like that.”
PSG had not appeared in Europe’s top club competition since making a feeble group-stage exit in 2004 and in the intervening period they had even flirted with relegation until being bought out by the Qatar Sports Investment group last year.
The new owners want their team to win the Champions League in the not too distant future, hence their massive investment on star names such as Ibrahimovic and Silva.
Silva finally made his debut in the heart of the back four after struggling with injury since his summer move from AC Milan and he could surely not have asked for a more serene start to life at his new club.
Dynamo, who have made a habit of coming off second best to Shakhtar Donetsk in their domestic league in recent times, arrived with very little ambition, happy to sit back and pack the midfield.
Save for an early Pastore strike that Maxym Koval turned around the post, that strategy restricted the hosts initially, but PSG were handed a glorious opportunity to get their noses in front when Jeremy Menez was brought down by Dynamo captain Taras Mikhalik inside the area.
There could be few complaints about referee Bjoern Kuipers’ decision to award the penalty and Ibrahimovic stepped up to score his 29th Champions League goal.
Forced to change their game after the opening goal, Dynamo became vulnerable to counterattacks from the home side, and both Ibrahimovic and Pastore were denied by Koval from one such move.
From the corner that followed, Dynamo failed to clear their lines, allowing Silva to slot home at the back post, while fellow Brazilian Alex added another with a thumping volley following another corner three minutes later.
The second half was almost akin to a training exercise, although Pastore came within a whisker of adding another 15 minutes from the end, before a Veloso cross from the right found its way into the net.
The game was in stoppage-time when substitute Nene picked out Pastore, whose shot squeezed under Koval to seal the win.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely