It looked as if Chelsea would return to London for next week’s second leg with a draw, and perhaps the upper hand in the tie, after they twice came from behind in the first hour at the Parc des Princes.
Bradley Barcola’s early opener for PSG was cancelled out by Malo Gusto, and a fantastic Ousmane Dembele finish which put the hosts back ahead just prior to the interval was followed by Enzo Fernandez making it 2-2.
However, a careless Jorgensen pass out was intercepted, allowing Vitinha to score PSG’s third with a delightful lob on 74 minutes, and substitute Kvaratskhelia smashed in a superb fourth for the hosts four minutes from time.
As if that were not enough, Kvaratskhelia scored again in stoppage time, leaving the reigning European champions seemingly with one foot in the quarter-finals before the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
“I am happy to have helped the team but I am more happy that we won against Chelsea because they are a good team,” Kvaratskhelia told broadcaster Canal Plus as he dismissed suggestions PSG were not the same force as last season.
“I don’t agree because we are still PSG and I think today we showed everybody that we are capable of everything. We just have to continue like this.”
The tie may not quite be over, but this result also gives PSG a measure of revenge in the first meeting of the teams since Chelsea crushed an exhausted French side 3-0 in last July’s Club World Cup final.
Nine of Chelsea’s starting XI that day lined up at kick-off here, the exceptions being Jorgensen – preferred to Robert Sanchez – and defender Wesley Fofana.
They also have a different coach now, of course, with Liam Rosenior having succeeded Enzo Maresca in January.
This game saw him make his return to France, where he did a fine job over 18 months at Strasbourg, the club who belong to the same BlueCo consortium which owns Chelsea.
His start in west London has been promising enough, but an exit from Europe will now be difficult to avoid, especially as PSG seemed to have their hunger back here after some patchy performances in recent weeks.
Luis Enrique’s team, who won three knockout ties against Premier League sides en route to European glory last year, have struggled to rediscover their form of last season with that marathon campaign taking its toll. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
