Nuno Mendes scored a damaging third goal in the 92nd minute to give Paris Saint-Germain a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Villa were seconds away from escaping Paris with only a one-goal deficit having been battered by the Ligue 1 champions, who racked up 29 shots and forced Emi Martinez into seven saves.
Morgan Rogers had put the visitors ahead against the run of play in the first half before PSG wingers Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia turned the tie around with unstoppable efforts either side of half-time, but Mendes’ added-time strike leaves Unai Emery’s side with it all to do at Villa Park.
PSG dominated from the start as Villa completed only 18 passes inside the opening 15 minutes yet they survived the early onslaught and took a shock lead in the 35th minute.
John McGinn stole the ball off left-back Mendes and drove into the PSG half, sweeping a pass out to Marcus Rashford on the left. He slipped in the overlapping Youri Tielemans to square for Rogers to tap in at the back post.
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Paul Merson couldn’t hide his excitement as Morgan Rogers put Aston Villa ahead in their Champions League quarter-final tie against PSG
PSG responded by forcing Martinez to push Doue’s shot onto the left post but he could do nothing about the teenager’s next effort.
The 17-year-old cut inside from the left and bent a superb curling shot that clipped the underside of the crossbar before it crashed into the right corner of the net.
Martinez had to save again from Doue before the half was finished before PSG made their dominance count four minutes after the break. Kvaratskhelia turned half-time substitute Axel Disasi inside out before slamming a shot into the roof of the net.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bamboozled Axel Disasi before producing a ferocious finish to put PSG ahead
Martinez made a sharp stop to deny Achraf Hakimi, who later managed to beat the Villa keeper although was flagged offside while Rogers and substitute Marco Asensio both squandered half chances.
Villa, though, were unable to prevent further damage from being done as Ousmane Dembele slipped in Mendes, who sat down Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez before slotting into an empty net.
‘Villa won’t overturn two-goal deficit’
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:
“I can’t see Villa overcoming a 3-1 deficit. They will need an early goal as I can’t see PSG not scoring.
“Villa were undone by three unbelievable goals. Martinez made a couple of good saves, but it was not like Alisson for Liverpool in the last round, and they were a threat on the counter
“It is just a shame to let in that third goal in the 92nd minute. PSG were the better team, but the way Villa defended, they deserved to come away with a 2-1.”