UCL: Chelsea out as Zlatan hands PSG victory

Matt McGeehan 04:49 10/03/2016
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  • Crucial: Ibrahimovic fires home.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent Chelsea tumbling out of the Champions League as Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 2-1 last-16 second-leg win at Stamford Bridge.

    Diego Costa had looked like being the night’s hero after an all-action display and cancelling out Adrien Rabiot’s opener. But Costa went off injured after an hour and Ibrahimovic struck seven minutes later to secure a 4-2 aggregate success.

    Ibrahimovic, on the eve of the tie, had denied seeking revenge after 12 months ago being sent off at Stamford Bridge, but had vowed he was better than ever as he continues to chase the triumph in this competition which has proved elusive in his illustrious career so far.

    And as he impressed, duly PSG advanced to a fourth straight Champions League quarter-final and Chelsea were left to contemplate the probability of being absent from the competition next season.

    Costa forced a save from Kevin Trapp in the opening momentsafter Rabiot, in for the injured Marco Verratti, had given the ball away.

    PSG, who are without challengers in Ligue 1, looked like they had not had to defend all season. And Costa was more of a nuisance than Laurent Blanc had predicted.

    The visitors, leading 3-1 and with Mikel’s away goal wiped out, continued to play at a high tempo as they sought another. But they looked vulnerable, too.

    Thiago Motta lost the ball in midfield to Pedro, who combined with Willian and then Costa, who did the rest. He turned Thiago Silva and fired into the bottom corner. It was just his second Champions League goal in 15 games for Chelsea, but his 11th goal in 15 appearances under interim manager Guus Hiddink, whose only prior defeat since his appointment was in the first leg.

    It gave the Blues belief. Ibrahimovic headed at Thibaut Courtois, while Cesc Fabregas shot wide and Hazard weakly at Trapp, who next saved sharply from Costa. Costa had been a menace, but departed and Chelsea’s only other real attacking threat was Willian. He stretched Trapp before Hazard’s poor follow-up was also saved.

    Ibrahimovic then delivered, netting from Di Maria’s cross. It was a cathartic moment for the Sweden striker, who missed the 2014 tie through injury and called Chelsea’s players “babies” following his sending-off 12 months ago.

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