Chelsea – PSG: it was good. It was very even – L’Observateur

120 minutes of madness, a legendary evening. Wednesday, March 11, Paris Saint-Germain has written one of the most beautiful pages in the history of French football in the European Cup by going snatch an unlikely qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the end of extra time against Chelsea Jose Mourinho (2-2). A win unanimously praised anthology

Yet he would have thought half past one earlier when Parisians found themselves reduced to ten men against eleven after a severe red card. – But not scandalous – out to Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Or after the first goal of the English, ten minutes from the end of normal time? Or penalty after Eden Hazard in the early extensions? But the Parisians have demonstrated exceptional mental and physical resources to succeed a resounding achievement. A night of ups and downs, loaded thrills. At Stamford Bridge, like watching TV

32nd minute. Zlatan deported, “it will take a miracle” (0-0)

They waited while the Swedes. But certainly not that. Half an hour as Paris is on a par with Chelsea in the game, in the undertaking. And then wham … An impressive tackle, certainly accepted, but absolutely useless 70 meters of the Parisian goal. Oscar does not hesitate to add more. English players put pressure on the referee. Red card … Unbelievable. The sky is falling on the heads of Parisians. How PSG can still get by ten against eleven face this team on his land? Eliminated at kickoff after the draw conceded in the first leg Park (1-1), Paris had already not favor predictions. But now it’s just going to have to a miracle to mark and hope to qualify

58th. Cavani touch wood, “Paris will not be two like that” (0-0)

The shot was perfect. After the round back, Paris had the opportunity to open the scoring and take control of the match. The pass from Javier Pastore – caviar – for Edinson Cavani is ideal. We are all standing, hanging that will be Uruguayan, which presents facing the mountain Thibault Courtois. Rather than trying the dish of phoned foot Cavani catches cold Belgian doorman of a beautiful hook. All right, Paris will mark! Except that the ball still has a bit in the feet. The angle is closed but the goal is empty … strikes complicated the left post … foot! Curse. Like last year, “El Matador” just miss the boat on the biggest Parisian occasion. In Paris there will be others? Nothing is less certain. Sigh and fuss

81st. Cahill crucify Paris, “the game is bent …” (1-0)

“That’s it folded.” Still believed it, especially after the huge opportunity and post Cavani twenty minutes earlier. Even at ten, PSG was supportive, determined, continued to play, hold the ball and put up a great resistance to the English. But on the couch, we’re crestfallen face this scenario sewn with white thread. There remain ten minutes to go, a corner for the Blues, huge scramble in the penalty area, and as the first leg is a London defender who sticks a knife in the back of the Parisians. A beautiful half volley Gary Cahill, unstoppable. Paris has managed a big European match, outnumbered. But against Chelsea, helped by arbitration home, it was not enough. Like crying

86th.! “David Luiz … DAVID LUIZ” (1-1)

A corner kick five minutes from the end. Everyone must climb Parisian side. Big games often play these shots there. This may be the last chance to equalize Paris to snatch extra time. Ezequiel Lavezzi, recently came into play, will relieve him. It’s not necessarily what he does best. Provided he puts a “pancake” on a Parisian head. This Cavani or of Thiago Silva. Or why not that of David Luiz. The story would be crazy. The Argentine rushes … but there’s tension at the near post … on the head of Brazilian blow that sends a helmet under the bar! 1-1. The 2,000 fans in Paris can exult. As on the couch. If the neighbors slept, then they are probably awake. David Luiz, the former Chelsea that Jose Mourinho did not want and that PSG “overpaid” last summer. With this equalization, karma has to interfere. The meeting turned. Go there

96th: The penalty Hazard, “but why Thiago Silva?” (2-1)

Once again faultless all match, the Parisian captain forgets completely. And causes a penalty for a stupid hand in the surface. Before replays, it is the total incomprehension. The Parisian defender probably wanted interfere Kurt Zouma mounted high to catch the ball with a header. But it was far from the goal, and there was probably not fire the lake. “But why, Thiago Silva?” Eden Hazard did not expect so much to find the net. Faced with Salvatore Sirigu, the former Lille does not tremble. Against the foot. 2-1. Damned, we are again the head to the bottom of the bucket. No more shots to goals, we must now give one to get the qualification. And find the moral and physical resources for that … That it’s hard

114th. Thiago Silva, new “Golden Helmet” (2-2)

Second consecutive corner for Parisians. Thibault Courtois just out off the year with a fantastic headline on a perfect head … Thiago Silva. It did not happen. It will no longer go. This guard is too strong. And Paris has already missed the boat one too many times. Paris will end in “loser” beautiful. The story almost endless French teams in the European Cup. Unless …

New corner on the other side. Thiago Motta pulls him out. And there, as in a dream, Thiago Silva it again. It is again taking precedence over the English captain, John Terry, flies into the air and hits the ball under the bar of the immense Courtois, lobed! An exceptional head.

Thiago Silva, the captain, the monster comes to redeem after his blunder. It’s hard. It’s crazy. This time, the living room walls trembled. What up! With this new equalization Paris is now qualified. Now there are six minutes left to keep (and probably a bit more considering arbitration house). Hold, hold, hold.

Happy end

But Paris has a lot of heart, the vice must be at this level, and experienced players to make ends meet without trembling. Londoners, stunned by what happening to them hardly ever see the ball. Mourinho can not do disinformation. The defeat mine, he understood that his team, even on the power for 90 minutes, fell on stronger than in all compartments. Even the young Adrien Rabiot room with the ball facing the star Cesc Fabregas. They would not dare believe it as arbitrator, who has not easier for us, will not whistled the end of the match. But this time, it smells good.

The final whistle, deliverance. PSG qualified after an unlikely scenario. Frankly we hardly believe it as the exploit is resounding. Laurent Blanc and his players can rejoice as the Parisian President Nasser al-Khelaïfi, jumps for joy as a child and embraces everyone. Happy end at Stamford Bridge. After two frustrating failures against Barcelona in 2013 (3-3 on all of two games) already against Chelsea last year (3-3 again), Paris has released a “big” and took a brilliant revenge, thanks those away goals that had cost so expensive the past two years. This is the first real achievement of quatarie era, happily recalls another era, the 90s, when Paris – that of Denisot and Canal + – Real Madrid was down with a head Kombouare. European night as we like and like the fans in Paris had not lived long ago. What a night …

Nicolas Buzdugan