monaco vs psg: Substitute Desire Doue Inspires Stunning PSG Comeback
Paris Saint-Germain overturned a disastrous start to claim a 3-2 first-leg victory over Monaco in the Champions League playoff tie on Wednesday evening (ET). Trailing 2-0 inside 18 minutes and surviving a missed penalty, PSG rode the influence of 20-year-old substitute Desire Doue — who scored twice and played a key role in the equaliser — to snatch an important away win at the Stade Louis II.
Lightning start for Monaco, penalty miss keeps PSG alive
The match could not have begun much worse for the holders. Inside the opening minute a clipped delivery found Folarin Balogun and the forward met it with a headed finish from close range to give the hosts an immediate advantage. Balogun then doubled Monaco's lead in the 18th minute, racing clear and finishing clinically to make it 2-0 and leave PSG on the back foot.
PSG were handed a lifeline when Wout Faes brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box, but the opportunity slipped away. Vitinha stepped up from the spot and saw his penalty saved, a repeat of a recent miss, with the goalkeeper diving to his right to keep Monaco ahead. Despite that setback, the visitors regrouped and began to apply pressure that would soon tell.
Doue ignites comeback; red card swings tie
Manager Luis Enrique introduced Desire Doue midway through the first half, replacing Ousmane Dembele, and the impact was immediate. Doue struck within minutes of coming on, drilling a shot in off the post from an acute angle to halve the deficit and spark new belief in the visiting side. His shot later in the half forced a save that paved the way for Achraf Hakimi to react to the rebound and finish with a half-volley, bringing PSG level just before the interval.
The tie shifted decisively early in the second period when Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin was shown a red card after a touchline review upgraded an initial yellow for a studs-up challenge on Vitinha. Down to 10 men, the hosts were left to defend a lead they no longer had, and PSG increasingly controlled territory and tempo thereafter.
Winner and the wider picture
PSG completed the turnaround in the 67th minute. Warren Zaire-Emery played Doue into space and the 20-year-old rifled a superb strike past the goalkeeper to secure a memorable comeback and finish with a brace. Doue has now scored four goals in this season's Champions League and became the first PSG substitute to net two or more goals in a Champions League match since October 2019.
The result hands PSG an advantageous position heading into the return leg next Wednesday (ET) in Paris, while Monaco will need to regroup after squandered early momentum and a sending-off that changed the match’s complexion. For PSG, the victory underlines the value of a deep, hungry squad and highlights a young forward emerging on Europe’s biggest stage. For Monaco, the bitter lesson is how quickly a promising start can unravel when discipline and game management falter.
Key performers on the night included Balogun, who netted both early goals for Monaco, and Philipp Köhn in goal, whose penalty save kept Monaco in front temporarily. But it was Desire Doue’s introduction that proved decisive — a reminder that knockout ties can turn in moments, and that substitutes often write the script in dramatic European nights.
