Lee Kang-in (25, PSG), who was brought on as a substitute, helped Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) overturn a two-goal deficit to take a favorable position for advancing to the round of 16.
PSG earned a 3-2 comeback win in the first leg of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) round of 16 playoff away match against AS Monaco at Stade Louis II in Monaco, France, on the 18th (KST). PSG, which took a valuable victory on the road, can advance to the round of 16 with just a draw in the second leg at home on the 26th.
The start was not good. PSG conceded the opening goal to Paularin Valogun within one minute of the match starting, then were shaken by a second goal on a counterattack in the 18th minute. In the 21st minute, Vitinha missed a penalty, making the situation even heavier.
At the moment of crisis, coach Luis Enrique's choice changed the flow. Déziré Dué, brought on in the middle of the first half, opened attacking channels immediately after being subbed on. He scored the consolation with a left-footed shot in the 29th minute, and in the 41st minute his shot was saved by the goalkeeper before Achraf Hakimi pushed in the second ball to level the match.
Early in the second half, Monaco's red card became a decisive factor. In the 3rd minute of the second half, Aleksandr Golovin received a red card for a reckless tackle, giving PSG a numerical advantage. PSG, which took full control of the momentum, overturned the match with Dué's second goal in the 22nd minute of the second half. They then increased possession and managed the game steadily, ultimately preserving a 3-2 win.
Lee Kang-in started on the bench and was brought on in the 24th minute of the second half for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He covered the pitch for about 26 minutes, recording three shots and contributing to the attack with an 88% pass success rate (23 of 26 attempts). A powerful left-footed shot he attempted near the right side of the box in stoppage time of the second half was saved by the opposing goalkeeper, leaving him without a direct attacking point. Football statistics firm FootMob gave Lee Kang-in a rating of 6.8.
Last season's Champions League winner PSG finished 11th in the league phase this season and failed to qualify directly for the round of 16, but the comeback win in the first leg of the playoff allowed them to continue the momentum into the tournament. Lee Kang-in has 3 goals and 3 assists in 25 official matches this season.
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