Champions League: Manchester United edge PSG in thriller

An injury-time penalty has helped Manchester United overcome a two-goal deficit in a Champions League thriller | WATCH

Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates as PSG players are left stunned at full-time in Paris. Picture: AFP

Marcus Rashford’s injury-time penalty has sent Manchester United through to the Champions League quarterfinals, securing a 3-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg.

Referee Damir Skomina awarded the penalty after a lengthy video review that showed defender Presnel Kimpembe jumping up to block Diogo Dalot’s shot with his elbow.

Rashford kept his nerve, blasting the ball past Gianluigi Buffon to send the United fans to his left into raptures.

“The kid is fearless. He’s got no doubt. Slotted it in. Brilliant,” United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

United has yet to confirm whether Solskjaer will get the job on a full-time basis, despite completely transforming the side after replacing Jose Mourinho. “It’s been a fantastic time with the players and the staff I’ve got,” Solskjaer said.

“I’m going to enjoy my job as long as I’ve got it. I’m going to smile.” His players are smiling, too, after this win.

As they sprinted to celebrate with their fans at the final whistle, Kimpembe lay flat on the ground for several moments as a stunned Parc des Princes crowd looked on in disbelief.

VAR played a key part in the night’s other match, too.

Alex Telles scored a penalty in extra time to send Porto into the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Roma, overturning a one-goal deficit from the first leg. He converted the spot kick after Alessandro Florenzi had been penalised following a review.

United had only a slim chance after losing 2-0 at home in the first leg of the last-16 match, with Solskjaer’s task made even harder by the fact that 10 of his players were either injured or suspended.

That included midfielder Paul Pogba, who was sent off at Old Trafford. “Everything seemed to be against us, but we’re used to that,” Rashford said.

“We showed what we’re about today and got the result we needed.”

Marcus Rashford after scoring the winner. Picture: AP

But Solskjaer, who scored an injury-time winner when United won the tournament in 1999, oversaw more late drama 20 years later.

It was the first time in Champions League history that a team lost the first leg at home by a two-goal margin and still went through.

“We always believed; that’s the thing,” Solskjaer said.

“The plan was to be in the game with 10 minutes to go and we were.” United was also handed an immediate lifeline when PSG gifted United striker Romelu Lukaku a second-minute opening goal, before equalising through left back Juan Bernat in the 12th.

Then, the hugely experienced Gianluigi Buffon spilled a low shot from Rashford and Lukaku turned in the rebound.

AP