The Korea Herald

지나쌤

PSG jolts Barca with late goal

By Korea Herald

Published : April 3, 2013 - 19:24

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PARIS (AP) ― Lionel Messi helped Barcelona gain a slight edge in its Champions League quarterfinal with Paris Saint-Germain, then limped off after injuring a hamstring.

Blaise Matuidi scored on the last kick of the game, giving PSG a 2-2 tie Tuesday night in the first leg of the total-goals series.

Messi, the four-time FIFA Player of the Year, scored his 57th goal of the season in the 38th minute, then favored his right leg in the final minutes of the first half and was replaced by Cesc Fabregas at the start of the second. Barcelona said Messi will undergo tests Wednesday on his right hamstring.

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano left on a stretcher in the 84th minute after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a collision with teammate Jordi Alba. Already missing injured defenders Carles Puyol and Adriano Correia, Barcelona said Mascherano will be sidelined for six weeks.

“We’ve paid a heavy price, because we’ve lost Messi, and Mascherano for probably six to eight weeks,” Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura said. “Of course it will be a big loss if we lose Messi, the best player in the world. But we have Cesc and other options, so we are confident from that point of view.”

Xavi Hernandez also scored for Barcelona, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic got PSG’s first goal.

In Tuesday’s other game, Bayern Munich defeated visiting Juventus 2-0 on goals by David Alaba 25 seconds in and by Thomas Mueller in the 63rd minute.

Pohang beats Hiroshima

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) ― South Korean side Pohang Steelers beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 to send the J-League champions to their third straight loss in the Asian Champions League, while Saudi club Al Alhi took control of Group C with a 4-2 victory over Iranian league champion Sepahan.

Bae Chun-suk scored from close range in the 18th minute as Steelers secured their first win of the campaign after draws against Bunyodkor and Beijing Guon.

Sanfrecce are at the bottom of Group G halfway through the group stage and are in danger of first-round elimination.

In Group E, FC Seoul stayed undefeated with a 2-1 win over Japan’s visiting Vegalta Sendai.

Frist-half goals from Sergio Escudero and Kim Jin-kyu put the hosts ahead before Wilson pulled one back three minutes from time for Sendai.