Angel Di Maria Archives - New Mail Nigeria https://newmail-ng.com/tag/angel-di-maria/ Hottest and Latest Updates of News in Nigeria. Re-defining the essence of News in Nigeria Fri, 09 Jul 2021 03:50:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://newmail-ng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-newmail-logo-32x32.png Angel Di Maria Archives - New Mail Nigeria https://newmail-ng.com/tag/angel-di-maria/ 32 32 Former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, joins Paris St-Germain on two-year deal https://newmail-ng.com/former-real-madrid-defender-sergio-ramos-joins-paris-st-germain-on-two-year-deal/ Fri, 09 Jul 2021 03:50:53 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=137171 Paris St-Germain have signed Sergio Ramos on a two-year deal following the defender’s departure from Real Madrid. Ramos, 35, left Madrid after 16 years when his contract expired at the end of June. Spain’s most-capped player won five La Liga titles and four Champions League medals with Real. “I am very happy to join Paris […]

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Paris St-Germain have signed Sergio Ramos on a two-year deal following the defender’s departure from Real Madrid.

Ramos, 35, left Madrid after 16 years when his contract expired at the end of June.

Spain’s most-capped player won five La Liga titles and four Champions League medals with Real.

“I am very happy to join Paris St-Germain,” Ramos said. “This is a big change in my life, a new challenge and it’s a day I will never forget.”

PSG chairman and chief executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: “Paris welcomes one of the greatest players of our era.”

Ramos is PSG’s third signing of the summer, after the arrival of Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan and Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Dutch midfielder also joined on a free transfer after leaving Liverpool.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who missed out on last season’s Ligue 1 title to Lille, have also been linked with a move for Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is a free agent after leaving AC Milan.

Ramos, who was left out of Spain’s Euro 2020 squad, will link up with former Madrid team-mates Angel di Maria and Keylor Navas.

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PSG players Angel di Maria, Marquinhos’ homes burgled during match https://newmail-ng.com/psg-players-angel-di-maria-marquinhos-homes-burgled-during-match/ Mon, 15 Mar 2021 21:22:37 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=134060 The family homes of Paris St-Germain players Angel di Maria and Marquinhos were burgled while the French champions played Nantes on Sunday. Argentina midfielder Di Maria was substituted in the 62nd minute of the 2-1 defeat after being told about the incident. His family were only aware their home had been burgled after it happened. […]

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The family homes of Paris St-Germain players Angel di Maria and Marquinhos were burgled while the French champions played Nantes on Sunday.

Argentina midfielder Di Maria was substituted in the 62nd minute of the 2-1 defeat after being told about the incident.

His family were only aware their home had been burgled after it happened.

Brazil defender Marquinhos said his parents’ home had also been burgled, adding that “nobody was hurt”.

The public prosecutor in Nanterre said the Banditry Repression Brigade (BRB), a French anti-organised crime squad, had been tasked with the investigation into the incident at Di Maria’s home. It looked into burglaries of the homes of PSG striker Mauro Icardi and goalkeeper Sergio Rico earlier this year.

The Versailles prosecutor will be involved in the Marquinhos case.

Former Manchester United player Di Maria was the victim of an attempted burglary while at his home in Cheshire in 2015.

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Paris St-Germain forward, Angel di Maria banned for four matches after Marseille defeat https://newmail-ng.com/paris-st-germain-forward-angel-di-maria-banned-for-four-matches-after-marseille-defeat/ Thu, 24 Sep 2020 03:27:29 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=127193 Paris St-Germain forward Angel di Maria has been banned for four matches for his role in a bad-tempered Ligue 1 defeat by Marseille on 13 September. Di Maria, 32, was accused of spitting at Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez during a match in which five players were also sent off after a late brawl. The Argentina […]

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Paris St-Germain forward Angel di Maria has been banned for four matches for his role in a bad-tempered Ligue 1 defeat by Marseille on 13 September.

Di Maria, 32, was accused of spitting at Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez during a match in which five players were also sent off after a late brawl.

The Argentina international was one of seven PSG players to test positive for coronavirus before the season.

The league did not confirm his ban was for spitting.

Former Manchester United winger Di Maria had returned a negative Covid-19 test before the French top-flight season began.

The video assistant referee chose not to take action against Di Maria at the time of the incident with Gonzalez and he played the full game as champions PSG lost 1-0.

PSG’s Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Layvin Kurzawa, and Marseille’s Jordan Amavi and Dario Benedetto, were all dismissed in injury time.

As he left the pitch, Neymar told the fourth official he had heard a racist comment. The Brazil forward later posted on social media that his “only regret” was not hitting Spanish defender Gonzalez in the face.

Gonzalez has denied any wrongdoing.

In announcing Di Maria’s ban – which begins on 29 September – the Ligue de Football Professionnel said it will “examine the file” relating to Neymar and Gonzalez on 30 September.

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Neymar, Di Maria, Paredes test positive for coronavirus https://newmail-ng.com/neymar-di-maria-paredes-test-positive-for-coronavirus/ Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:22:37 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=126133 Paris Saint-Germain trio Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes have tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports in France. The Ligue 1 club confirmed on Wednesday three players returned a positive Covid-19 result and L’Equipe later revealed who the unfortunate players were, with the trio understood to have all enjoyed a recent holiday in […]

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Paris Saint-Germain trio Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes have tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports in France.

The Ligue 1 club confirmed on Wednesday three players returned a positive Covid-19 result and L’Equipe later revealed who the unfortunate players were, with the trio understood to have all enjoyed a recent holiday in Ibiza.

“Three Paris Saint-Germain players have confirmed positive Sars CoV2 tests and are subject to the appropriate health protocol,” the club said in a statement.

“All of the players and coaching staff will continue to undergo tests in the coming days.”

The French champions on Monday said that two of their players had tested positive for the virus and gone into quarantine.

Although the Ligue 1 season has kicked off, PSG have yet to begin their campaign as they have been given a break following their run to last month’s Champions League final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich.

Positive tests have already disrupted the start of the new season, with the opening match of the campaign between Marseille and St Etienne postponed when Marseille reported four positive tests.

PSG were awarded the 2019/20 title after the season was curtailed in April.(mirror.co.uk)

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Classy PSG reach first Champions League final https://newmail-ng.com/classy-psg-reach-first-champions-league-final/ Wed, 19 Aug 2020 03:33:49 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=125270 Paris St-Germain are through to their first Champions League final courtesy of a deserved victory over RB Leipzig in an entertaining semi-final in Lisbon. One of Europe’s biggest spenders, but also one of the continent’s most high-profile underachievers on the grandest stage, PSG finally seized their opportunity courtesy of goals from Marquinhos, Angel di Maria […]

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Paris St-Germain are through to their first Champions League final courtesy of a deserved victory over RB Leipzig in an entertaining semi-final in Lisbon.

One of Europe’s biggest spenders, but also one of the continent’s most high-profile underachievers on the grandest stage, PSG finally seized their opportunity courtesy of goals from Marquinhos, Angel di Maria and Juan Bernat.

The former, who scored the first of two late goals in a comeback win over Atalanta in the last eight, rose to head home a superbly delivered free-kick from Di Maria.

The Argentine forward then finished well from close range following an audacious flick from Neymar after Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi had relinquished possession with a dire kick.

With the fit-again Kylian Mbappe and Neymar terrorising the Leipzig backline, the French side should have been out of sight before the break, but the latter twice hit the post – from a clipped finish then an opportunist free-kick from range – before side-footing another chance wide at the near post.

Prior to PSG’s second, Yussuf Poulsen had Leipzig’s best chance but fired wide after he was found by a Dani Olmo pull-back.

Bernat sealed the win in the second half with a header that Leipzig felt was offside but was legitimate as the prone Nordi Mukiele, who had slipped in the build-up, was playing the scorer onside.

PSG will find out who they face in Sunday’s final when five-time winners Bayern Munich play Lyon in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

This is glorious, but nervous, virgin territory for PSG.

The vast sums of money pumped into the French club by owners Qatar Sports Investments since 2011 has enabled them to dominate domestically. In Europe, though, not so much.

In the three seasons prior to this one they exited in the last 16, and before that they went out in the quarter-finals four years in a row – results that ultimately cost managers Laurent Blanc and Unai Emery their jobs.

Thomas Tuchel, though, has found a way to break the glass ceiling, leading the side from the French capital to their first major European final since the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1997, a year before Mbappe was born.

You cannot begrudge them it either on the basis of Tuesday’s performance, which was calm, confident and incisive, in contrast to a nervy and often negligent display from their opponents.

The first and third goals gave Di Maria his 88th and 89th assists in all competitions since he joined the club in August 2015 – only Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has more in Europe’s top five leagues in that time.

He also now has nine goal involvements in the competition this season, surpassing the tally he managed in helping Real Madrid lift the trophy in 2013-14.

Neymar’s brilliant assist took him to 23 goal involvements in 19 appearances for PSG (14 goals & nine assists) in the Champions League and while Mbappe’s finishing was rusty, he was still able to regularly fashion chances for himself and others.

When this trio have started together this season, PSG have lost just one of 12 games. With them fully fit and firing, they will be a match for whoever they face in the final.

RB Leipzig are the babies of European football, having only come into existence in their current guise in 2009 when drinks company Red Bull bought fifth-tier side SSV Markranstadt and rebranded them.

The past 11 years have witnessed a stunning rise for the club, courtesy of four promotions, a regular presence at the top of Bundesliga and now graduation to being one of the four best sides in Europe.

Past finalists Tottenham and Atletico Madrid were both dispatched en route to this stage but PSG proved a challenge too far for the youngest coach in the competition and his bold side.

Julian Nagelsmann was encouraged into coaching by PSG counterpart Tuchel when the pair were both at Augsburg and the former had seen his playing career ended at the age of 20 by a serious knee injury.

Still only 33, he has plenty of time on his side and has shown more than enough to suggest he can lead a side beyond this stage – including a switch to a three-man defence in the second half on Tuesday that gave his side a much more positive presence in the game.

For now, though, the master-apprentice dynamic remains intact.

Having lost striker Timo Werner to Chelsea before their European campaign had ended, the challenge now for the German side will be to hold on to the rest of their stars – and their manager.

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Mbappe’s hat-trick puts PSG in Champions League last 16 driving-seat https://newmail-ng.com/mbappes-hat-trick-puts-psg-in-champions-league-last-16-driving-seat/ Tue, 22 Oct 2019 21:27:58 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=111278 Substitute Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer to the Champions League last 16 with a 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten Club Brugge on Tuesday. The World Cup winner, who has only started four games this season due to thigh and hamstring injuries netted three time in the space of […]

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Substitute Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer to the Champions League last 16 with a 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten Club Brugge on Tuesday.

The World Cup winner, who has only started four games this season due to thigh and hamstring injuries netted three time in the space of 20 minutes to help PSG go five points clear of Real Madrid, who beat Galatasaray 1-0, in second place in Group A.

Maurco Icardi netted the visitors other two goals as fellow Argentinian Angel Di Maria directly set-up three of his side’s efforts.

For the third time in Europe this season PSG’s Thomas Tuchel was unable to start his attacking trio of suspended Neymar and injured Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.

Brugge coach Philippe Clement, who has guided the club to the top of the Belgian Pro League, was without captain Ruud Vormer as the Netherlands midfielder serves a suspension for a red card he received in the draw at Real.

The visitors claimed an early lead as Di Maria received a long-range ball on the right flank.

The Argentina winger curled in an early cross with the outside of his left foot and Icardi beat Simon Mignolet at his near post after seven minutes.

Champions League debutant Charles De Ketelaere missed a good chance to equalise after half an hour but the 18-year-old failed to worry Keylor Navas.

Icardi had a chance to double the Parisians’ advantage six minutes into the second-half but his effort across goal was well-saved my Mignolet.

Mbappe entered the fray 60 seconds later and instantly dropped deep hungrily looking for possession.

The Ballon d’Or candidate repeated his feats from Friday’s Ligue 1 victory over Nice by scoring and claiming an assist within the final half an hour.

He claimed his first of proceedings with 28 minutes of the game to go after another Di Maria curling cross.

The World Cup winner then set-up Icardi for his fifth in four games less than 60 seconds later.

Mbappe’s second and third goals of the match both came from lovely Di Maria passes as PSG marked their intentions in the competitions with a clinical performance.

The two clubs meet again on November 6 in the French capital with Neymar expected to be sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty.

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Di Maria scores two as PSG beat Real Madrid to put pressure on Zidane https://newmail-ng.com/di-maria-scores-two-as-psg-beat-real-madrid-to-put-pressure-on-zidane/ Thu, 19 Sep 2019 03:55:40 +0000 https://newmail-ng.com/?p=109341 Angel di Maria scored twice against former employers Real Madrid as Paris St-Germain began their Champions League Group A campaign with a comfortable win. Thomas Meunier’s stoppage-time goal added more embarrassment for the Spanish giants – and heightened the pressure on Real manager Zinedine Zidane, whose win ratio is below 50% since returning to the […]

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Angel di Maria scored twice against former employers Real Madrid as Paris St-Germain began their Champions League Group A campaign with a comfortable win.

Thomas Meunier’s stoppage-time goal added more embarrassment for the Spanish giants – and heightened the pressure on Real manager Zinedine Zidane, whose win ratio is below 50% since returning to the club towards the end of last season.

Eden Hazard, making his first start for the visitors, showed some nice touches but struggled to influence proceedings, as a Real old boy stole the show.

Celebrating his 100th appearance in the competition, Di Maria opened the scoring with a close-range shot that crept inside Thibaut Courtois’ near post from Juan Bernat’s pass.

While Real’s Belgian goalkeeper Courtois appeared to be caught out for the opening goal, he could do nothing to prevent the second.

Idrissa Gueye’s fine work on the right created the opening for Di Maria, who found the bottom right corner superbly with a curling effort from 20 yards.

Hopes of a Real fight-back were briefly raised when Gareth Bale lobbed the ball magnificently over home keeper Keylor Navas from the edge of the penalty area.

However, his goal was ruled out for handball by referee Anthony Taylor after it was reviewed by video assistant referee (VAR) officials, as was Karim Benzema’s offside effort late in the second period.

And a miserable night for Real and Zidane was compounded as Juan Bernat and Meunier, strolled through the visiting defence before Belgian full-back Meunier placed the ball into the bottom right corner.

It confirmed that PSG, who were without their entire first-choice strike force of Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, halted a run of three consecutive defeats against the Spanish club.

While Paris St-Germain were – on paper at least – noticeably under strength without their celebrated front three, they still easily had too much firepower for Real.

That was largely down to Di Maria, Pablo Sarabia and loan signing Mauro Icardi – supposedly the supporting cast – who exhibited the guile and movement to bewilder a Madrid defence shorn of the leadership of Sergio Ramos.

Di Maria in particular produced a performance that rolled back the years to his days patrolling the flank over five seasons at the Bernabeu.

The 31-year-old Argentina winger made almost 200 appearances for Real and was named man of the match as the Spanish giants claimed their 10th European Cup/Champions League trophy against neighbours Atletico in 2014.

Just as on that night in Lisbon, he was at his best with his elusive running and clever positioning, tormenting Real full-back Dani Carvajal.

Aside from scoring twice, Di Maria cut the visitors open on several occasions with Sarabia sliding an effort wide after being picked out by his colleague.

And Di Maria, whose exuberant celebrations after both goals will have rankled with Real supporters, could have rounded off his evening with a hat-trick – narrowly failing with a scooped effort over Courtois that landed on the roof of the Real net.

While Real Madrid have won the European football’s most prestigious competition a record 13 times, this performance suggested they may struggle to negotiate the group stage.

Despite spending heavily in the summer, Zidane’s side lacked the intensity and quality to compete for long periods and he will have been dismayed by the manner in which PSG scored their third goal.

Of his summer recruits, Hazard, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao – the only starters – endured difficult evenings against a PSG team that pressed Real at every opportunity.

Forwards Luka Jovic and Rodrygo, meanwhile, were spectators worth a combined £90m until the Serbia forward was introduced in the 70th minute.

Yet even that did little to galvanise the La Liga club, who failed to register a single shot on target for the first time in 167 Champions League matches dating back to 2003-04.

In midfield, Luka Modric’s absence was also heavily felt with Toni Kroos and Casemiro unable to wrestle control of midfield away from Marco Verratti, Idrissa Gueye and Marquinhos.

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Pogba sees red as PSG pound Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford https://newmail-ng.com/pogba-sees-red-as-psg-pound-manchester-united-2-0-at-old-trafford/ Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:02:37 +0000 http://newmail-ng.com/?p=98135 Manchester United must mount a miraculous recovery operation to keep their Champions League campaign alive after they were overpowered by Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford. Second half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe secured victory for the French champions, with Paul Pogba sent off for two yellow cards late on. United’s revival with 10 […]

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Manchester United must mount a miraculous recovery operation to keep their Champions League campaign alive after they were overpowered by Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford.

Second half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe secured victory for the French champions, with Paul Pogba sent off for two yellow cards late on.

United’s revival with 10 wins in 11 games under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raised hopes that this was the night they could reclaim their place in Europe’s elite.

Instead, they were outclassed by PSG to suffer their first European home defeat by a margin of more than one goal and will now need to produce something remarkable in Paris on 6 March to stand a chance of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Solskjaer’s hopes were hampered by first-half injuries to Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial but PSG made light of the absence of injured Brazilian superstar Neymar and striker Edinson Cavani.

Former Manchester United misfit Angel Di Maria was their tormentor, his 53rd minute corner allowing Kimpembe, arguably fortunate to still be on the pitch, to escape the attentions of Nemanja Matic and sidefoot past David De Gea.

And it was fitting that the brilliant Mbappe, whose searing pace was a threat all night, enhanced PSG’s position of superiority when he turned Di Maria’s inviting cross past the exposed De Gea on the hour.

If United’s plight was not bad enough already, it was made worse when Pogba was sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time and will miss the second leg.

Reality bites for Solskjaer
Solskjaer has done a remarkable job in transforming the mood and performances since succeeding sacked Jose Mourinho in December – but this was his toughest night since he arrived back at Old Trafford.

It was no reflection on Solskjaer that United lost, they were simply the victims of a better team that still possessed an outstanding attack in the shape of Di Maria and Mbappe, even in the absence of Neymar and Cavani.

Solskjaer and United’s cause was not helped by injuries to Lingard and Martial in the opening period, the latter particularly damaging given his brilliant recent form.

United could not be faulted for effort or character but they simply did not have the weapons to trouble Thomas Tuchel’s side as they exposed United’s defence through the width and delivery of Di Maria and the irresistible speed of Mbappe.

Solskjaer will not give up hope ahead of the second leg in Paris but logic suggests this is the end of the road for Manchester United’s Champions League ambitions.

Di Maria’s frustrating spell at Manchester United after a then British record £59.7m move from Real Madrid was reflected in the barrage of jeers that accompanied him throughout this Champions League tie.

The Argentine, often poorly utilised by manager Louis van Gaal, lasted only a year before leaving United for Paris in a £44.3m deal having never produced his finest form.

Here, to their pain, Manchester United and their fans witnessed exactly what they could have had.

Di Maria shrugged off the abuse, and a needless barge from Ashley Young that sent him flying painfully downhill and into Old Trafford’s cinder track in the first half, to make contributions of real significance in PSG’s win.

And how he enjoyed it.

It was his corner that fell to Kimpembe for the opener and he showed what he was really all about when he outpaced United’s retreating defence and put the second on the plate for Mbappe as he arrived with perfect timing.

Di Maria was given a standing ovation by PSG’s fans when he was replaced late on after finally showing his real worth at “The Theatre Of Dreams.”

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PSG suffer their first Ligue 1 defeat of season https://newmail-ng.com/psg-suffer-their-first-ligue-1-defeat-of-season/ Mon, 04 Feb 2019 04:10:20 +0000 http://newmail-ng.com/?p=97682 Paris St Germain (PSG) lost 1-2 at Olympique Lyonnais to suffer their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season ahead of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Manchester United. Thomas Tuchel’s PSG, without the injured Neymar, were overwhelmed at the Groupama stadium on Sunday by Lyon who will face FC Barcelona in Europe’s […]

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Paris St Germain (PSG) lost 1-2 at Olympique Lyonnais to suffer their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season ahead of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Manchester United.

Thomas Tuchel’s PSG, without the injured Neymar, were overwhelmed at the Groupama stadium on Sunday by Lyon who will face FC Barcelona in Europe’s premier club competition.

Nabil Fekir’s second-half penalty kick earned Lyon all three points after Moussa Dembele had cancelled out Angel Di Maria’s early opener for PSG.

PSG lead the table with 56 points from 21 games, 10 ahead of second-placed Lille who have played two more games.

Lyon are third, three points further adrift.

The capital side lacked steel in midfield in the absence of injured Marco Verratti and missed the spark of Neymar.

The Brazilian will also sit out the Feb. 12 first leg tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford due to a foot injury.

Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, spearheading the attack in a 4-4-2 formation, were subdued, raising concerns nine days before PSG face a resurgent Manchester United side.

PSG went ahead after seven minutes when Julian Draxler dispossessed Houssem Aouar and set up Di Maria on the edge of the box for the Argentine to score with a left-foot shot.

Lyon had the upper hand, though, and PSG were saved by six stops from Alphone Areola before he failed to handle a Leo Dubois cross.

It left Dembele free to head home from point-blank range in the 33rd minute.

Lyon took the lead four minutes into the second half, Fekir converting a penalty kick after Thiago Silva had fouled Dembele.

The visitors dominated the closing stages, but the Lyon defence and goalkeeper Anthony Lopes held firm to hand the capital side their first league defeat since May.

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Mbappe brace edges France past Argentina https://newmail-ng.com/mbappe-brace-edges-france-past-argentina/ Sun, 01 Jul 2018 07:45:20 +0000 http://newmail-ng.com/?p=86397 Teenager Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in four minutes to send France charging into the World Cup quarter-finals and Lionel Messi home with a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina on Saturday. The 19-year-old forward’s electric pace caused Argentina many problems all afternoon and his twin strikes helped France overturn a 2-1 deficit. They have now […]

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Teenager Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in four minutes to send France charging into the World Cup quarter-finals and Lionel Messi home with a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina on Saturday.

The 19-year-old forward’s electric pace caused Argentina many problems all afternoon and his twin strikes helped France overturn a 2-1 deficit.

They have now set up a quarter-final meeting at Nizhny Novgorod on Friday with Portugal or Uruguay, who play later on Saturday.

Mbappe, the first teenager since Brazilian great Pele in the 1958 final to score two goals in one World Cup match, was the most influential player on the pitch.

However, Argentina’s Angel Di Maria and France full back Benjamin Pavard fought out a private contest for the best goal of the contest with two magnificent long-range strikes.

Di Maria’s goal cancelled out Antoine Griezmann’s early penalty kick to put Argentina on equal terms just before the break.

But Pavard’s goal in the 57th minute levelled up the scores at 2-2 after Argentina had gone ahead through Gabriel Mercado.

Mbappe then took over to send twice champions Argentina slumping out of the finals before the quarter-final round for the first time since 2002.

Argentina got a consolation through substitute striker Sergio Aguero in added time but they simply could not cope with Mbappe’s pace from his first surge towards the box after nine minutes.

Javier Mascherano brought him down and Griezmann crashed the subsequent free-kick off the bar from 25 metres, but it only took a couple of minutes for them to break the deadlock.

Mbappe set off on another driving run from well inside his own half and Marcos Rojo, well beaten for pace, bundled him to the floor inside the area.

Griezmann’s strike from the spot was not as clean as his free kick but goalkeeper Franco Armani went the wrong way.

France looked like doubling their lead after 19 minutes when Mbappe set off to chase a Paul Pogba ball and Nicolas Tagliafico hauled him down.

The referee decided it was a free kick on the edge of the box, however, and even if Pogba blasted high over the bar, Argentina looked shell-shocked at Mbappe’s early onslaught.

Four minutes before the break, though, they were level.

Di Maria received a pass from the left, took one touch to tee up the ball and hit the sweetest shot into the top-left corner of the net from 40 metres.

Three minutes into the second half and they were ahead, Messi curling a shot hopefully towards Hugo Lloris in the France goal and right back Mercado reacting instinctively to deflect the ball into the net.

The Argentina fans were now in full voice, but their joy did not last long before France restored parity after 57 minutes.

Pavard pounced on an over-cooked cross some 20 metres out and lashed it on the half-volley into the net.

Mbappe’s first goal came seven minutes later when he snared a loose ball.

He took one touch to race past his marker and lashed it home with his left foot through Armani’s dive.

His second came after 68 minutes at the end of a beautifully-flowing French move, with Olivier Giroud providing the subtlest of touches to lay the ball into Mbappe’s path.

The teenager finished right-footed with some elan.

Argentina continued to fight over the last 20 minutes but Aguero’s header from Messi’s cross in stoppage time was too little, too late.

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