Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Stade de Reims: Gameiro goal sends hosts top of Ligue 1
Posted Sunday, October 21, 2012 by YAHOO Sport
A second half header from Kevin Gameiro helped PSG maintained its unbeaten
Ligue 1 run with a 1-0 victory over Stade de Reims
The visitors worked hard to stifle Les Parisiens' rhythm throughout but Gameiro's
strike ensured PSG's victory. The recently-promoted side had the opportunity to
take the lead from the spot late in the first half, but a brilliant Sirigu save denied
Diego from 12 yards out.
The hosts opened the match in unconvincing fashion, with Christopher Glombard
twice allowed to cut inside from his left flank. His first venture saw the ball
eventually cleared by PSG's congested defense, while the second led to had to
Kossi Gassa parrying the the Frenchman's effort.
PSG's Maxwell, shifted to a midfield role for the night, should have opened the
scoring for his side after being put through by a delicate through ball from
Ibrahimovic. The former Barcelona man failed to put power behind his strike
however, and Gassa collected calmly.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges grew in confidence as the first half wore on, dominating
possession but failing to find penetration through the middle of the field. The
central midfield duo of Alex and Maxwell often resorted to long balls in an attempt
to break forward, restricting Les Parisiens to long range efforts.
And it was a lofted ball that presented Ibrahimovic with the chance to put his side
ahead, Silva finding his former Milan team-mate with a well-weighted pass. The
Swede was unable to direct his volley on target however, firing wide from a tight
angle.
Gameiro came inches form finding the breakthrough minutes later, after Nene
had put the Frenchman through with a classy backheel. The forward could only
direct his strike straight at Gassa, with the deflection cleared off the line by
Anthony Webber.
Reims were handed a glorious chance to take a lead into the halftime break, with
the referee awarding the visitors a penalty following Gregory van der Wiel's
handball in the area. Diego stepped up to the spot, but a brilliant save from
Salvatore Sirigu kept the sides level.
Both sides ramped up the pressure with the interval looming, but failed to find a
breakthrough in the closing stages of the first half. Alex failed to tap in a curling
free kick with only the keeper to beat, before Mamadou Sakho put his body on
the line at the other end to deny Glombard.
The second half picked up largely where the first left off, with a dynamic showing
from the visitors stemming PSG's rhythm. The hosts were largely restricted to
aerial forays, with Sakho making a mess of a header he should have converted
minutes after the break.
Blaise Matuidi then found himself in acres of space in the area following a poor
corner clearance from Reims, but the midfielder could only direct his scrappy
effort at the crossbar. The Frenchman then saw a drilling effort deflected by his
own teammate, when the ball appeared to be heading for goal.
PSG was rewarded for its dominance in the 65th minute, when Gameiro latched
on to a Maxwell delivery from six yards out. The Frenchman's powerful header left
Agassa helpless, and handed his side the lead they and been probing for.
The hosts continued to push for a second in the closing stages, but continuously
lacked the final pass to forge opportunities of note. Ibrahimovic's backheel was
very nearly controlled by Menez in his stride, after the former had been denied a
headed chance by Gameiro's intervening and ineffective contact with the ball.
Ibrahimovic and Menez both had opportunities to put the tie to bed in the opening
exchanges, but both failed to beat Agasse from narrow angles. Julien Toudic
then saw a scissor kick fly just over at the other end, denying the Frenchman
what would have been a spectacular equalizer.
The win sees PSG provisionally draw level with league leaders Marseille, who
travels to Troyes later in the round.
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