Internet Desk: Edinson Cavani came off the bench to score the winner as PSG defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League at Parc des Princes.
The Uruguyan International replaced Lucas Moura in the 74th minute of the match and converted a winning goal minutes after, firing underneath Thibaut Courtois to hand PSG a slight advantage ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 9.
PSG appeared untroubled by the controversy that led to Serge Aurier’s club-enforced suspension for alleged comments towards Laurent Blanc in the build-up to the game, but after a bright start they needed a save from Kevin Trapp to turn Diego Costa’s header on to the bar in the 23rd minute.
The hosts’ positive play eventually paid off when a deflection on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s free-kick in the 39th minute wrong-footed Courtois following a deflection off John Obi Mikel for the opening goal.
The Nigerian made amends with a composed equalizer just before the end of first half before the interval, but PSG were relentless in applying pressure after the restart.
After Angel Di Maria, Ibrahimovic and Lucas were all denied by Courtois, Cavani got the better of the Belgian with 12 minutes remaining to put PSG in the ascendancy and hand Guus Hiddink his first defeat since returning to Stamford Bridge.