Di Maria ends drought, Cavani scores as PSG beats Basel 3-0
PARIS (AP) - Angel Di Maria ended his goal drought at just the right moment and striker Edinson Cavani continued his scoring streak as Paris Saint-Germain overcame a poor start to beat Basel 3-0 in the Champion League on Wednesday.
Having gone 17 games without a goal for club and country, Di Maria pounced five minutes before halftime - but only after the Swiss visitors missed several good chances. Brazilian winger Lucas slotted in his seventh goal of the season in the 62nd minute and Cavani added a late penalty.
The result, which keeps PSG level on seven points with Group A leader Arsenal, was ultimately harsh on a Basel side that looked slick and impressive going forward, yet can also only blame itself for hitting the post three times from close range.
"We're going home empty-handed and that hurts," Basel coach Urs Fischer said. "Basel should have been 2-0 up but that makes no difference in the end."
Di Maria smashed the ball into the roof of the net following good work from Blaise Matuidi down the left. His relief was evident as he slid on his back to take in the moment. It was his first goal since scoring for Argentina against Chile at the Copa America in June, and first for PSG since the League Cup final against Lille on April 23.
Lucas guided the ball into the bottom right corner from just inside the area following a cross from the left by Serge Aurier.
With the clock running into injury time, Cavani was tripped in the penalty area and slammed the spot kick down the middle for his 13th goal in 11 games for PSG this season.
Although the result points to a comfortable win, the first half highlighted PSG's limitations rather than showcasing its credentials as a Champions League contender.
PSG players celebrated with enthusiasm in front of their fans but the exuberance was somewhat misplaced.
Basel, not a European force by any reckoning, clearly exposed PSG's defensive fragility on set pieces and new coach Unai Emery still has much work to do to make his French team a compact unit.
"We will work to do better," Emery said. "But it's a question of the defense and the attack, to improve the positioning of our players in order to improve our balance."
Having led Sevilla to three straight Europa League titles, the Spaniard was hired over the summer to take PSG further in the Champions League.
PSG has gone out at the quarterfinal stage in the past four seasons. But on this evidence, PSG looks some way off being a contender, and a ruthless side would have punished poor marking with goals.
"The first half wasn't good, that's the truth," Emery said. "It was easier at 1-0 because our opponents opened up."
With PSG midfielder Thiago Motta failing to shake off a muscle injury there was little protection in front of the defense, and Basel poured into the space. With the inexperienced goalkeeper Alphonse Areola unable to properly command his back four, crosses were poorly dealt with.
"If you count the chances, we should have had at least a point," Fischer said. "We showed that we could put PSG in danger at home."
Basel right back Michael Lang headed against the crossbar in the fifth minute after a corner to the back post was nodded back by Iceland midfielder Birkir Bjarnason.
PSG's marking was absent moments later when attacking midfielder Renato Steffen sprinted clean through, drawing a fine save from Areola. Although the rebound came to him quickly, Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia should have kept his shot down.
Just before Di Maria's goal, Doumbia headed against the post from another cross.
After the break, Cavani went close with a header and missed a one-on-one.
Then, moments after Lucas' goal, Basel hit the woodwork again through Czech center back Marek Suchy.
"It's very bitter that we lost in such a way," Lang said. "Sometimes it's only a matter of centimeters."
Arsenal thrashed Bulgarian champion Ludogorets 6-0 to go top of the group on goal difference.