Mbappe nets late winner as PSG beat Brest 2-1

Posted Sunday, March 12, 2023 by ESPN

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe combined for PSG's late winner at Brest.

Paris Saint-Germain refocused on their last shot at silverware this season in Ligue 1 and beat Brest 2-1 with a late Kylian Mbappe goal on Saturday.

Mbappe beat the offside trap to collect a through ball from Lionel Messi in the 90th minute and rounded goalkeeper Marco Bizot to slot into an empty net.

The France striker was lucky to still be on the pitch after kicking Haris Belkebla, who was on the ground in the 85th.

"We're not saying that we lost because of that, but I'd like to know whether all the players would get the same treatment if they did that," Brest midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou said. "I asked the referee for an explanation. He said that it was tame. So, I'd like to see what's a real kick."

Mbappe initially fouled Belkebla from behind. Belkebla fell to the ground and held onto Mbappe's leg. In an act of petulance, Mbappe kicked Belkebla in the stomach. The referee showed only yellow cards to Mbappe and Belkebla for that incident.

PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday and are left with trying to win Ligue 1. PSG lead second-placed Marseille by 11 points.

"Of course, there is this disappointment, but we have to go and get this title, and there is unity. And have no doubt about this unity," PSG coach Chistophe Galtier said.

Midfielder Carlos Soler slammed in a rebound in the 37th after Bizot parried a swerving long-range strike from Mbappe. The Spain international was the most threatening PSG player in the first half. He curled a shot that Bizot diverted onto the post in the 11th. Soler also fed Mbappe, who missed the target from a tight angle in the 26th.

Bizot frustrated PSG in the second half, palming away Messi's effort from the edge of the box in the 65th and saving a close-range attempt from Nuno Mendes in the 70th.

Brest had very little possession but managed to expose the fragility of the PSG defence. The hosts capitalized on a counterattack to level in the 44th. Franck Honorat made a run in behind Sergio Ramos to chase a long ball from Romain Del Castillo and held off Timothee Pembele to shoot high past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

PSG have kept just two clean sheets in the league since the World Cup.