Paris, Nov 9: AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud’s powerful header early in the second half secured a 2-1 Champions League Group F home victory over Paris St Germain on Tuesday for the first win in this season’s competition for the Italian side.
Former Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar had put PSG ahead but their advantage lasted only three minutes before Rafael Leao netted an acrobatic equaliser and Giroud then sealed a precious victory just after the break in front of 75,000 fans at the San Siro stadium.
Milan now has five points from four games in third behind second-placed PSG with six points.
Leaders Borussia Dortmund have seven points after winning 2-0 earlier on Tuesday at home to Newcastle United who are bottom on four points.
The match in San Siro was played at a frenetic tempo in the first half with end-to-end action and, while the pace inevitably slowed in the second period, it was an absorbing clash in which Milan had to hold on at the end as PSG piled on the pressure.
“It was a high-level match, we knew the difficulty of coming to play here, “PSG captain Marquinhos told media. The second goal changed the match because we weren’t good at that moment.”
“We knew it (qualification for the knockout stages) would be hard if we didn’t win today, but we must not give up. Everything remains in our hands.”
Milan won a Champions League game in which they had trailed for the first time since beating Real Madrid in 2009.