A pricey mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen triggered a late breakdown, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s brace handed Champions League champions Paris St-Germain a three-goal advantage ahead of next week’s last-16 second leg.
Chelsea performed strongly, leveling the score at 2-2, but Jorgensen’s pass directly to PSG’s Bradley Barcola, followed by a lob from Vitinha, allowed the European champions to regain their advantage for the third time at Parc des Princes.
Nevertheless, substitute Kvaratskhelia curled an impressive shot from the edge of the area before creating a challenge for Chelsea by scoring 5-2 with a side-footed finish in the dying moments of the match.
Chelsea could have had a much better night, as they played well for 75 minutes, even after conceding a goal within the first 10 minutes.
Barcola kicked off the scoring with a strong strike that went through multiple Chelsea players and into the near post after Ousmane Dembélé’s cross was redirected into his way.
Jorgensen subsequently deflected Dembele’s strong shot onto the post, but Malo Gusto leveled the score for Chelsea, firing past the unsure goalkeeper Matvei Safonov after Enzo Fernandez found him with a pass.
Only 14 seconds after Cole Palmer fired a shot directly at Safonov from within the penalty box, Dembele was rejoicing over restoring PSG’s lead.
He surpassed Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and discovered the space for a calm side-foot shot. Desire Doue’s imagination enabled him to dodge the obstacles posed by Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah in midfield prior to passing to last year’s Ballon d’Or winner.
Nonetheless, Doue would prove costly for PSG in the second half when Neto intercepted the ball from him, and his low cross was converted into the net by the advancing Fernandez, bringing the match level once more for Chelsea.
Fewer than five minutes afterward, PSG coach Luis Enrique substituted Doue with the dynamic Georgian forward Kvaratskhelia.
Jorgensen’s expensive mistake—an inaccurate pass directly to Barcola—enabled Vitinha to chip the wayward goalkeeper and regain the Parisians’ advantage for the third occasion that evening.
A harsh moment for Chelsea was succeeded by one of sheer brilliance as Kvaratskhelia executed an irresistible curling shot from the edge of the area, with another side-foot finish bringing the tally to five goals for the European champions.
Chelsea must now recover from a three-goal deficit when they host PSG for the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
