KYLIAN MBAPPE SCORED a vital goal before getting sent-off as Paris Saint-Germain maintained their 100 per cent record in Ligue 1 with a 4-2 victory over 10-man Nimes.
Having forged ahead through goals from Neymar and Angel Di Maria towards the end of the opening half, Thomas Tuchel’s men were picked apart by a feisty Nimes side who refused to lie down.
Antonin Bobichon put the hosts back in the contest with a sweetly struck shot before a VAR-awarded penalty, converted by Teji Savanier, had them on course for an unlikely point.
WATCH: @KMbappe and Savanier sent off as things get spicy at the end of #NOPSG 🇫🇷🌶https://t.co/vE93IW1bdV pic.twitter.com/2DqspzNvhT
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 1, 2018
But Mbappe struck his fourth goal in three appearances this season 13 minutes from time before Edinson Cavani found the net in stoppage time to finally finish off Nimes.
That was not the end of the drama, though, with Mbappe dismissed for his reaction to a heavy tackle from Savanier, who was also shown a red card in the closing seconds of an eventful contest.
Thomas Meunier created the breakthrough on 36 minutes, playing a one-two with Mbappe before crossing for Neymar to slide in and poke the ball past Paul Bernardoni, who was caught out four minutes later when Angel Di Maria scored directly from a corner on PSG’s right, curling the ball in at an unguarded near post as the goalkeeper back-pedalled helplessly.
Yet Nimes were rewarded for an improved second-half display when Sada Thioub squared to Bobichon, allowing the substitute to curl a first-time shot beyond Alphonse Areola.
Neymar scored and immediately ran over to celebrate in front of a banner calling him a "cry baby." pic.twitter.com/PIgjcFFPHt
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 1, 2018
Thiago Silva’s clumsy challenge on Theo Valls gifted Nimes a 70th-minute penalty that was eventually awarded after the use of technology, Savanier depositing the spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Just as an unlikely turnaround appeared to be on the cards, Mbappe latched onto a long ball over the top from Presnel Kimpembe, took one touch to perfectly control the ball and then lashed his attempt beyond Bernardoni.
Cavani capitalised on a Julian Draxler pass to nonchalantly roll the ball in for PSG’s fourth before Mbappe was given his marching orders for pushing Savanier to the floor after the midfielder had scythed him down.
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