Mbappe plays starring role on return to PSG side

AFP  |  Paris 

Kylian Mbappe marked his first appearance for Saint-Germain since winning by coming off the bench to score a late brace that gave the French champions a 3-1 victory at Guingamp.

had given the home side the lead in the Brittany sunshine, and only a combination of and VAR prevented Thomas Tuchel's side from being further behind at half-time.

But Mbappe came on for the second half and Neymar equalised from the penalty spot soon after, before the 19-year-old starlet added two goals in the closing 10 minutes to secure the points.

"I have very big objectives, so there is no time to loaf around," Mbappe told at the end of the game.

"I brought something to the team but the whole side wanted to do better after a timid start to the match." It is now two wins from two in this season for PSG under new Tuchel, after they swept aside 4-0 to win the campaign-opening in

"The situation is still difficult for us because the players are not on top form having arrived late after the World Cup," said Tuchel, who admitted his team had been fortunate not to be 3-0 down at half-time.

The capital side were again without a host of big names, including Edinson Cavani, the Uruguayan still not deemed fit to return after a suffered at

Mbappe started on the bench along with two fellow French winners, and centre-back Presnel Kimpembe.

Tuchel again put faith in youth, just as he had done in last week's 3-0 win over Caen. Timothy Weah, the 18-year-old son of the great George Weah, was rewarded for his goal-scoring exploits off the bench in that game with a start here.

However, he was hauled off at the interval after a dreadful first-half performance from his side.

Buffon kept his team on level terms when he tipped a Roux effort onto the bar early on, but the veteran Italian was beaten 20 minutes in.

The goal came when Antoine Bernede's pass put his fellow teenager in trouble -- the full-back got caught in two minds and intervened to play in Roux for his first goal for the club.

- Neymar scores, Falcao misses penalty -

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were then grateful to the Referee for confirming on-field official Clement Turpin's decision to disallow a second Guingamp goal in the 25th minute.

Coco went round Buffon to set up Nicolas Benezet, but he was adjudged to have fouled Dagba just before heading in.

With Mbappe on, it was Neymar who levelled the scores with a 53rd-minute penalty he himself had won.

That was the Brazilian's second goal in as many games, but Mbappe's performances at hinted that he could steal more of the limelight from the world's most this season.

In his first game since scoring in France's 4-2 final win over last month, Mbappe put PSG in front with eight minutes left after being set up by

And he made sure of the points at the death with a delightful dink over Guingamp's Swedish Karl-Johan Johnsson, with Neymar this time providing the assist.

That goal even drew applause from the Guingamp fans, mindful of the youngster's role in France's glorious campaign in

"It was top to have Kylian and to be able to bring him on," added Tuchel.

"It was not a surprise but the situation was completely different after he came on."

Meanwhile, Radamel Falcao had a second-half penalty saved as were held 0-0 at home by Lille, after suffered a 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Reims on Friday.

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First Published: Sun, August 19 2018. 09:45 IST