Paris Saint-Germain staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Monaco 3-2 at the Stade Louis II on Monday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout round playoff, with 20-year-old substitute Désiré Doué emerging as the hero of a dramatic encounter. Monaco had raced into a commanding 2-0 lead through Folarin Balogun's quick-fire double, but PSG responded with three unanswered goals to seize a vital advantage ahead of the return fixture at the Parc des Princes.
The home side made a blistering start as Balogun opened the scoring inside the first minute, catching the PSG defence off guard with a clinical finish. The American striker doubled his tally in the 18th minute, leaving the visitors shell-shocked and staring at a potentially humiliating defeat in the all-French Champions League clash. Monaco appeared to be in complete control and on course for a dominant first-leg victory.
PSG were handed a lifeline when Wout Faes fouled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Philipp Köhn produced a superb save to deny Vitinha from the spot. The missed penalty could have been a devastating blow to Parisian hopes, yet the turning point arrived through misfortune and opportunity in equal measure. Ousmane Dembélé suffered an injury and had to leave the pitch, prompting coach Luis Enrique to introduce the young Doué as his replacement.
The 20-year-old wasted no time in making his mark on the contest. Doué pulled a goal back in the 29th minute with a composed finish that ignited the PSG fightback and gave the visitors renewed belief before halftime. Achraf Hakimi then levelled the scores at 2-2 in the 41st minute, converting from a chance created by Doué's intelligent play. The Moroccan full-back's equaliser sent the two teams into the interval on level terms after a breathless first half that had produced four goals and a penalty save.
The second half began with further drama as Monaco's Aleksandr Golovin received a straight red card in the opening seconds for a reckless studs-up challenge on Vitinha. The Russian midfielder's dismissal left the hosts with ten men and fundamentally shifted the balance of the tie in PSG's favour. With numerical superiority, the Parisians pressed forward relentlessly in search of a winner.
Doué completed his extraordinary cameo performance by scoring his second goal of the evening in the 67th minute, giving PSG a 3-2 lead that Monaco could not overturn despite their spirited efforts. The young Frenchman's brace from the substitutes' bench marked one of the most impressive individual displays in this season's Champions League, turning what had appeared to be a disastrous evening into a triumphant one for the capital club.
PSG now hold a significant advantage heading into the second leg at the Parc des Princes, where they will look to seal their passage to the next round of the competition. Monaco face the daunting task of overturning a deficit away from home while also coping with the suspension of Golovin following his red card. For Doué, the performance represents a breakthrough moment on the European stage, and his contribution will undoubtedly strengthen his case for a more prominent role in the matches ahead.
Comments