Icardi’s 91st-minute goal defended PSG from a loss to Lorient even though no one expected the match between Lorient and Paris Saint-Germain to end in a draw. Throughout the match, the Lorient team performance was outstanding, making the game such an interesting one. On Dec 22, 2021, the match came up at exactly 20:00 UTC at Stade du Moustoir. It was an exciting game between the two teams. Thanks to a 91st-minute goal by the PSG star, Mauro Icardo, the match ended in a draw.
Team position in the points table
Paris Saint Germain has stayed at the top of League 1, with 13 points in total. They have been performing incredibly with no loss, despite the lackluster 1-1 draw with Lorient at Stade du Moustoir. Lorient experienced a setback this season after losing in 8 of their 12 games played. They started the match against PSG better, using a long-ball pass strategy in the first half, giving them a great advantage.
Position on Points Table
This was the first match this season where Lorient went head-to-head with PSG. PSG is at the top of the table, while Lorient sits on the 19th spot (following their string of losses). The match became exhilarating when Thomas Monconduit scored the first goal of the game for Lorient in the first half, which remained the only goal until the 91st minute, when Icardi rescued a point with a header.
Early Moments
For the first 15 minutes of the match, the game was unprecedented. At one moment, running off the shoulder of Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe, Terem Moffi made an attempt which was let down by his unfocused approach to finishing. He went one-on-one following a simple ball from a far distance. Then he dropped Keylor Navas to the grass with a sleeveless chemise. Shockingly at the end, the forward’s chipped shot dropped too close to the goalkeeper.
Excellent performance of Messi
Lionel Messi‘s excellent performance in the match cannot be overstated. He created at least five goal-scoring chances for his teammates, but none found the net. He missed a chance of scoring when he sent a glancing rebound off the inside of the post. Dango Ouattara and Armand Lauriente also had good scoring chances, which were truncated.
Lorient scored
Lorient finally took the ground when Thomas Monconduit sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner. As a result, the host got a lead at the 41st minute. The match would have changed if Lorient effectively utilized the opportunity they got immediately after the restart. Still, Ouattara got the ball under his feet and held it till Georginio Wijnaldum got back to make it a block.
PSG’s fruitless efforts
Angel Di Maria made a shot when he teed up with Messi. Unfortunately, he only glanced the ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping. He missed another scoring chance not long after, making PSG’s effort fruitless.
Match changing moments
The worst of it for PSG was the moment Sergio Ramos received a yellow card for a disagreement at a corner, followed by a red card for a blatant foul on Moffi. Fortunately for the guests, Mauro Icardi changed the game by scoring with a header in injury time. This is the moment which spared PSG from a humiliating defeat by Lorient.