Ezequiel Lavezzi was the difference in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final as the Argentine scored one and made one to give his side a slender advantage of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. Lavezzi gave the hosts the lead after just four minutes when he volleyed home after an error from John Terry but Eden Hazard levelled from the penalty spot before half-time. In the second period, an inch-perfect delivery from Lavezzi resulted in David Luiz putting the ball into his own net. Late on, Javier Pastore scored a superb solo effort to extend the Parisian's advantage. Chelsea started the game in the worst possible fashion as they fell behind after just four minutes. John Terry, fresh from scoring the decisive own-goal against Crystal Palace at the weekend, saw his weak header picked up by Ezequiel Lavezzi, who volleyed home from 10-yards. The English side were gifted an opportunity to pull level near the half hour mark when Thiago Silva unnecessarily dived into a tackle on Oscar, felling the Brazilian and conceding a penalty, which Eden Hazard comfortably stroked into the bottom corner of the net. Four minutes before the Blues almost took the lead. Willian flicked a ball over the box and Hazard struck a venomous shot against the far-post. Moments later, Edison Cavani had a penalty appeal waved away. Lavezzi came close to his second of the night shortly after the break as he lashed a shot onto the roof of Petr Cech's net before the Argentine played an instrumental part in giving his side the lead once more. His free-kick delivery wreaked havoc in the Chelsea box as Cech couldn't claim it and Ibrahimovic couldn't get a touch but it hit David Luiz and cannoned into the gaping net. A perfect dead-ball delivery from the man that had been causing the Blues trouble all game. Lucas demonstrated his ability as he embarked on a blistering run through the Chelsea defence, only to see his hard work wasted by a disappointing Cavani, who conceded possession with a heavy touch. He almost redeemed himself in the last five minutes when he blasted a long-shot narrowly wide of the post. Shortly before the final whistle Javier Pastore worked his way from the far side of the field and beat three Chelsea players before firing in a shot past Petr Cech at the near post. The late goal could prove vital in the second-leg next Tuesday as PSG will head to Stamford Bridge seeking just a single away goal, while Chelsea will need to shut out the opposition and score two.
Josh has had work featured in the Evening Gazette and on Newcastle United website. He is a Multimedia Journalism student at Teesside University and runs a successful sports blog. He also enjoys films, comics and TV, writing about anything he can. Josh has recently started writing his first of what he hopes will be many books.
