PSG's Lee Kang-in gets assist in late-game equalizer to salvage 3-3 draw with Le Havre

Football

Published: 28 Apr. 2024, 12:16 Updated: 28 Apr. 2024, 17:08

PSG's Lee Kang-in gets assist in late-game equalizer to salvage 3-3 draw with Le Havre

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in, left, kicks the ball in front of Le Havre's Loic Nego at Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in got an assist in Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-3 draw with Le Havre at Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday, helping seal a late-game equalizer that saved the Ligue 1 leaders from what would have been a surprising loss to a club facing relegation.

The draw, against a team that has been winless since March 10, stopped PSG from officially clinching the league title despite being 12 points clear at the top with a 20-goal difference over No. 2 Monaco.

On paper, it was PSG’s game, the home side overpowering No. 15 Le Havre on attack, keeping possession for 78 percent of the rainy game. But it was Le Havre who opened the scoring in the 19th minute, midfielder Christopher Operi capitalizing on a pass from Emmanuel Sabbi to cross the ball into the right corner.

PSG responded after a short delay for a medical check on Le Havre keeper Desmas, who appeared to collide with the post, with 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery on the right firing a long cross to Barcola who finished the job, steps away from the net.

But Le Havre’s Andrew Ayew put one back in the 38th minute from the middle of the pitch with an assist from Loic Nego, the visitors retaking the lead before halftime.

PSG manager Luis Enrique made multiple changes after the break, sending in striker Kylian Mbappe along with midfielders Lee and Senny Mayulu to help the home side play catch up.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique, center, speaks to Lee Kang-in and Kylian Mbappe before they come on as substitutes at the start of the second half in a match against Le Havre on Saturday at Parc des Princes in Paris. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

But Le Havre stretched their lead even further thanks to a penalty in the 61st minute after a VAR review slapped a foul on PSG’s Danilo, with Le Havre’s Abdoulaye Toure taking the shot to make things 3-1, leaving the Parisiens just 30 minutes to avoid their first Ligue 1 defeat since September, their only loss of the 2023-24 season.

It was then that PSG manager Luis Enrique depleted the rest of his five allotted substitutions per game, switching in defender Milan Skriniar and striker Goncalo Ramos. That paid off, with Ramos assisting Achraf Hakimi in the 78th minute to take a clear shot from the middle, which narrowed the gap.

Ramos got his goal in the 90+5 minute, thanks to help from Lee, who lobbed the ball over the line of defenders to Ramos who headed the ball in for a crucial equalizer that prevented a late-season upset.

It was Lee’s second Ligue 1 assist of the 2023-24 season. He has so far recorded two goals and two assists in the league — on top of a goal in PSG's Trophee des Champions win over Toulouse and another goal and an assist in the Champions League, where PSG are set to meet the Bundesliga’s Dortmund in the first leg of the semifinals on Thursday.

Lee, who played as a sub on Saturday, has been a regular pick since joining the French club ahead of this season, making 15 out of 20 total appearances in the starting XI.

PSG have three Ligue 1 games remaining and are all but set to take the top-tier French title. They play No. 11 Toulouse on May 12 at home in Paris.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]