The Angers players and whole team were very angry at the referee’s decision. PSG was awarded by the late penalty in the match and that’s how the Parisian club saved the game.
Anger from the fans and staff of the team
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he understood Angers’ frustration after a controversial late penalty gave the Ligue 1 leaders a 2-1 victory. PSG trailed following Angelo Fulgini’s 36th-minute opener before Danilo Pereira’s header, their first shot on target, levelled matters on Friday. It looked as if they would have to settle for a share of the spoils, but PSG were awarded a penalty after a VAR check for handball against Pierrick Capelle. Kylian Mbappe swept home from 12 yards in the 87th minute, with Angers left to fume. Romain Thomas felt he was fouled by PSG forward Mauro Icardi in the lead-up to the penalty incident. He told Prime Video: “It’s incredible what’s happened. Losing 2-1 at the end, losing here isn’t shameful, but [to lose] like that, no, it’s not possible. We worked all week to do something properly and the referees can’t take the time to do theirs. VAR – I’m starting to get tired of this story. Putting millions into something when you don’t even know how to use it, it annoys me because I’m passionate, I’m dedicated. At the start of the play, he pulled me on the arm, I fell and then he played from that position for the penalty. So, I’m frustrated.
Mbappe is the savior
Mbappe’s penalty was his only shot on target from three attempts, his winner following his decisive – and also controversial – goal in France’s victory over Spain in the Nations League final. The player has scored and delivered an assist in the same Ligue 1 game for only the third time in 2021, after January against Montpellier (two goals, one assist) and April at Strasbourg (one goal, one assist). He has been involved in 27 league goals for the year (20 goals, seven assists) – at least four more than any other player in the top flight.