In summary:
- PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 in London.
- Dembele scored the only goal early in the match.
- Arsenal pushed hard but couldn’t score; VAR disallowed a goal.
PSG gained a narrow 1-0 advantage over Arsenal in their Champions League semifinal first leg thanks to an early stunning goal from Ousmane Dembele. Despite Arsenal’s determined efforts to equalize, including disallowed goals and strong saves from PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, they couldn’t find the net. A tense finish saw Arsenal push hard, but PSG’s defense held firm, setting up a crucial second leg in Paris.
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Dembele Strikes Early for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain secured a tight 1-0 victory against Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal clash. The match took place on Tuesday night at Arsenal’s home ground, Emirates Stadium. With this result, PSG takes a slight advantage into the return match scheduled for Paris on May 7.
The lone goal of the intense encounter came early in the fourth minute. PSG’s Ousmane Dembele unleashed a powerful and well-placed shot that flew past Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya. The goal originated from a swift attacking move by PSG down the right side of the pitch. Dembele’s strike immediately injected energy into the game.
Arsenal Fights Back But Can’t Score
Arsenal responded with determination, striving to find an equalizing goal. Both Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino had opportunities to score for the home team. In the second half, Trossard’s attempt on goal forced an impressive save from PSG’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Later, Merino believed he had scored with a header following halftime. However, after a lengthy review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the goal was disallowed due to an offside infringement. This decision sparked frustration among the Arsenal supporters present at the stadium.
PSG’s defense displayed resilience throughout the match. Goalkeeper Donnarumma was crucial, making several important saves, including one denying Gabriel Martinelli from close range. Defenders Marquinhos and João Neves worked tirelessly to thwart Arsenal’s attacking threats. Neves made a critical tackle to stop Merino during a dangerous moment, and Marquinhos effectively cleared away potential threats to their goal.
As the final minutes of the game approached, Arsenal intensified their efforts to score. In the 88th minute, Declan Rice stood over a free kick just outside PSG’s penalty area. His attempt to curl the ball into the net was thwarted by a clearance from PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
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Close Calls and Tense Finish
In the additional time at the end of the match, Arsenal earned a corner kick. Rice delivered the ball into the box, but a foul by Arsenal’s Ben White on Donnarumma led to the referee halting play.
The match concluded after five minutes of added time. Towards the end of the regulation 90 minutes, Arsenal made a substitution, replacing Martin Odegaard with young talent Ethan Nwaneri. PSG also made a late change, bringing on Warren Zaire-Emery in place of Neves in the 89th minute. Despite Arsenal’s late surge and pressure, PSG’s defense remained solid, securing the 1-0 victory.
This narrow defeat leaves Arsenal with a challenge but still in contention for a place in the Champions League final. The North London club has never won this prestigious European competition. Their impressive 5-1 aggregate victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid in the quarterfinals demonstrated their capability.
PSG, also seeking their first Champions League title, previously eliminated English clubs Liverpool and Aston Villa in earlier rounds. Notably, Arsenal had defeated PSG 2-0 during the league phase in October, but PSG appeared to be a more formidable opponent in this semifinal encounter.
The second leg of this semifinal tie in Paris will be decisive in determining which team advances to face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the Champions League final, scheduled to take place on May 31 in Munich, Germany.
Arsenal will need to score at least one goal in the return leg to keep their hopes alive. PSG will aim to capitalize on their home advantage and secure their place in the final. Football fans anticipate an exciting and closely contested rematch in Paris.
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