Szoboszlai late penalty secures 2-2 draw with PSG
RB Leipzig draw 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain on UCL matchday 4 | Nkunku and Szoboszlai on the scoresheet | Last 16 no longer possible - Third place and Europa League still attainable
RB Leipzig’s Champions League journey will go no further than the group stage. Despite an impressively strong performance against Paris Saint-Germain, Jesse Marsch’s side were made to deal with a 2-2 draw against the French side. After Christopher Nkunku gave his side the lead, Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice to turn the game around. Dominik Szoboszlai equalised in injury time with a penalty kick. The draw means that a place in the last 16 is no longer mathematically possible, but the Club Brugge’s loss to Manchester City means that the chance of third place and a place in the Europa League is still a possibility.
The Red Bulls enjoyed a fantastic start to the game and dominated the opening 20 minutes. André Silva was denied one-on-one by Gianluigi Donnarumma after only a few seconds, before Emil Forsberg saw his shot saved by the PSG keeper (6’). Two minutes later, however, the ball was in the net. Nkunku scored with a diving header after meeting a brilliant Silva cross before respectfully not celebrating the goal against his old team. Moments later, it could have been 2-0 when Silva was brought down in the area, but his penalty kick was saved by Donnarumma (12’). Leipzig continued to impress and saw chances from Konrad Laimer (13’) and Nkunku (17’) missed the target as they looked to increase the lead.
The visitors, who had offered nothing going forward, equalised with their first shot on goal when Wijnaldum tapped in a pass from Kylian Mbappé (21’) before doubling his tally to turn the game before half time. His header at a corner kick was initially ruled out for offside before being overturned after a VAR check (39’). Mbappé almost increased the lead after a breakaway solo effort but put his shot over the bar (45’+1).
The second half was a quieter affair to begin with, but PSG had another chance to increase their advantage just after the hour mark. However, the brilliant Péter Gulácsi was on hand to deny Mbappé (64’), before momentum shifted towards Leipzig. Angeliño (65’), Szoboszlai (72’) and Amadou Haidara (74’) all saw efforts blocked, saved, or narrowly wide. The efforts were finally rewarded. Nkunku was brought to ground in the area in added time and referee Andreas Ekberg awarded a penalty kick after a VAR observation. Szoboszlai stepped up and delivered a brilliant penalty to level (90’+2.).
STATISTICS
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi (C) - Simakan, Orban (46' Haidara), Gvardiol - Mukiele, Adams (74' Olmo,), Laimer (85' Henrichs), Angeliño - Nkunku, Forsberg (59' Szoboszlai), - Silva (59' Poulsen)
Unused subs: Martínez (goalkeeper), Kampl, Moriba, Novoa
PARIS ST. GERMAIN:
Donnarumma - Hakimi, Marquinhos (C), Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes - Wijnaldum (85' Herrera), Danilo, Gueye - di Maria (85' Draxler), Mbappé, Neymar
Unused subs: Letellier (goalkeeper), Navas (goalkeeper), Dagba, Diallo, Kehrer, Kurzawa, Dina Ebimbe, Icardi
REFEREE:
Andreas Ekberg (Schweden)
GOALS:
1-0 Nkunku (8'), 1-1 Wijnaldum (21'), 1-2 Wijnaldum (39'), 2-2 Szoboszlai (90'+2)
YELLOW CARDS:
Adams (24'), Marsch (30'), Simakan (69'), Poulsen (90'+5) - Danilo (11'), Kimpembe (32'), Nuno Mendes (62'), Neymar (74'), Donnarumma (90'), Herrera (90'+5)
ATTENDANCE:
39,794 (home attendance sold out) | RB Arena, Leipzig
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
Kick off:
Underway in the RB Arena!
1st minute:
Great start! Mukiele finds Silva with a cross into the penalty area. The forward shoots from close range and Donnarumma saves. The flag was up for offside anyway.
6th minute:
RBL have started really well. Silva finds Forsberg, who tries a shot from 20 metres. Donnarumma makes himself big and saves.
8th minute:
GOOOOAAAL!!! Silva delivers a perfect cross from the left towards the six-yard box, where Nkunku dives to head into the back of the net!
10th minute:
PENALTY FOR RBL! Nkunku breaks through and is brought down before Silva picks up the ball and is clean though. He’s brought to ground by Danilo. Referee Ekberg immediately points to the spot!
12th minute:
Silva steps up, but Donnarumma goes the right way and saves.
13th minute:
Almost the second. Laimer with a powerful shot from the edge of the area goes wide. RBL are really on top of PSG here!
17th minute:
Nkunku is playing delivering against his former club. He’s involved again and almost doubles his tally, but his shot powers just over the bar.
21st minute:
Goal for PSG. With their first shot of the game, the visitors have found the back of the net. Neymar played through Mbappé, who squared to Wijnaldum to tap in from close range.
24th minute:
Adams receives a yellow card for a challenge on di Maria. That’s his third yellow of the competition this season and he’ll miss the game against Brugge.
35th minute:
Mukiele gets into the area down the right, but nobody can get onto his cross inside.
38th minute:
PSG attack down the other end. di Maria’s shot is blocked.
39th minute:
PSG goal. Marquinhos rises highest froma corner and heads towards the front post. Wijnaldum nods the ball into the goal from close range, leaving Pete with no chance. The goal is initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR check overrides. 2-1 to PSG!
45+1st minute:
Mbappé attacks on the counter, but fires over the bar after racing away.
Half-time:
After a fantastic opening 20 minutes from RBL, which could have seen the boys 3-0 ahead, the visitors come back and scored a pair of chances through Wijnaldum from almost as many chances. PSG lead at the break, but the game is far from over.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
46th minute:
Back in action for the second half. Willi Orban is forced off through injury. Amadou Haidara is on in his place.
48th minute:
Very strong save from Gulácsi, who clears di María one-on-one. The offside flag was already up.
52nd Minute:
RBL overload the PSG box in a 3-on-2, but the hosts win possession and counter. The attack ends with Mbappé shooting narrowly wide.
59th minute:
Szoboszlai and Poulsen are on in place of Forsberg and Silva.
60th minute:
Simakan heads over from a free kick.
64th minute:
Mbappé is through again and bears down on Gulácsi. Our captain stays composed and makes a sensational save one-on-one!
65th minute:
Nearly level again! Donnarumma punches away a cross from Nkunku. Angeliño picks up the ball and shoots with the goalkeeper out of position, but Marquinhos manages to block the shot.
72nd minute:
What a chance! A perfect chipped ball into the area finds Szoboszlai on around the penalty area but he misses the target to the left of the bottom corner.
74th minute:
Haidara with a powerful effort from outside the area, but it goes just over the bar.
87th minute:
Big chance from a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area. Nkunku tries his luck, but the ball is deflected over by the wall.
89th minute:
PENALTY TO LEIPZIG! Kimpembe jumps to head a cross to the back post, clattering into Nkunku from behind and knocking him to the ground. The referee checks at the VAR footage before pointing to the spot!
90+2nd minute:
YES! GOOOAAALL! There’s the equaliser! Szoboszlai makes no mistake and finishes into the bottom left! Donnarumma went the right way but was beaten. You can't hit a penalty better than that!
Full time:
A strong performance that could have been more. A highly deserved point for Leipzig!