PSG Beat RB Leipzig To Reach Champions League Final, Bayern Munich Youth Coach Sacked and More (Football Round-Up)
PSG players celebrate after scoring against RB Leipzig in their UEFA Champions League semifinal match in Lisbon.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) outclassed RB Leipzig to reach their first Champions League final late on August 18. Two first half goals from Marquinhos (13’) and Angel Di Maria (42’) were enough to kill Leipzig’s spirits and in the second half the French side never looked in any trouble whatsoever.
Di Maria was quite visibly PSG’s key man of the match, setting up two goals and scoring one himself. While PSG’s performance was without blemish, it bears mention that Leipzig contributed hugely to their loss with two horrible defensive lapses for the second and third goals.
For Di Maria's goal, Leipzig’s goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi was hugely at fault, mis-kicking a pass from the back to gift Leandro Paredes possession right outside the box. And yet there remained a lot to be done, with Neymar, the recipient of Paredes’ pass inventively flicking the ball over to Di Maria near the penalty spot free on goal. He did not miss. For the third a horrible slip by Nordi Mukiele right on the edge of their box gifted the Argentine possession. His cross was unerring, and Bernat had only to put a head to it.
It may not have been as easy as it looked at the end, with Leipzig throwing the kitchen sink at PSG, but it was a case of too little too late. And on a day, they seemed to have no share of the luck whatsoever, where half chances fell the wrong way, close decisions too. They had as many shots as PSG but it was the ones on target that counted. And even those, for Leipzig, were often thwarted by a goalkeeper confident in the knowledge his team had everything going for them.
All of this was made clear in the 13th minute, the unluckiest of numbers proving PSG’s most decisive in the final. Who else at the centre of it but Di Maria, the man from Argentina, enjoying a silent resurgence in Paris. His freekick was from a dangerous angle, but the delivery had to be perfect. It was. And Marquinhos was there to finish.
PSG were formed 50 years ago. They were bought by their money laden Qatari owners nine years ago. Since then the club have spent over €1 billion on players. Within thirteen minutes in the biggest match in their history, two of those transfers paid off.
Bayern Fire Youth Team Coach
Bayern Munich have fired a coach from their youth academy under investigation by the police over allegations of racism.
In a statement Bayern confirmed that the unnamed coach’s contract was terminated by mutual agreement. Firing the coach is "the first result of an internal survey currently under way" at the youth training academy, it added.
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According to the German media, the coach has been accused of making racist remarks in a series of messages. While he initially dismissed the allegations and called them false, he later confessed to making racial comments.
The youth coach has been a part of the club since 2003 and has been handling the children’s youth team since 2006. According to reports by weekly Der Spiegel the coach has made comments on skin colour, nationality, religion and sexual orientation of players.
Ligue 1 Postponed
The governing body of French football, LFP has announced that the opening match of Ligue 1 scheduled for Friday night has been postponed following four Covid-19 positive cases in Olympique de Marseille.
“In view of medical results passed on by Olympique Marseille, the LFP has decided to postpone the Olympique de Marseille - AS Saint-Etienne game to September 16 or Sept 17,” the LFP said in a statement.
Marseille were set to host Saint-Etienne on Friday in the first fixtures in Ligue 1. Last week, the French league informed clubs that according to the coronavirus protocols if more than three positive cases were found at a club the league would end up postponed.
France is among five European nations that ended their season prematurely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in April with Paris St Germain claiming the title.
Man City Women Sign Lavelle
Manchester City Women signed United States international Rose Lavelle, making her the second woman from the US after Sam Mewis to join the club.
“I’m so excited to join Manchester City and I can’t wait to play alongside some really talented players. I’m looking forward to the opportunity of playing in England and competing in the Champions League,” Lavelle, a World Cup winner with 45 caps for the US Women’s team said.
“After talking with [head coach] Gareth Taylor about the team and how he saw me fitting in, it seemed like a great environment that would really push and develop me as a player.”
“I’ve heard amazing things about the club and it just felt like a really good fit overall. I want to challenge myself and feel that Manchester City is the perfect environment to do so and hopefully, I’ll find some success along the way,” she added.
Lavelle is considered one of the best midfielders in the world. She joined OL Reign this week from Washington Spirit with an agreement to play outside the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
JFC Sign Jackichand
Jamshedpur FC have signed Indian winger Jackichand Singh ahead of the Indian Super League (ISL) season, the club said in a statement. Singh signed a three-year deal till 2023.
Jackichand scored five goals and three assists for FC Goa and has a play time of over 1300 minutes of playing time en route to the ISL playoffs last season.
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“Playing for Jamshedpur FC is a fantastic opportunity for me. Jamshedpur is one club in India that has everything a player needs, and the entire country knows how passionate and vocal the people of Jharkhand are for football,” Jackichand said.
“I am convinced with the philosophy and the path Jamshedpur FC are following and hope to contribute with my heart and soul to help the club achieve much-deserved success. Of course, I look forward to achieving this under the robust leadership of Owen Coyle.”
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