HATEM BEN ARFA is tasked with filling Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s boots at Paris Saint-Germain – but it was left to the full-backs to see off Inter Milan in the International Champions Cup.
Goals from Serge Aurier and Layvin Kurzawa handed the French giants three points in the pre-season competition.
But the PSG pair were able to focus more on attacking and less on defending as Arsenal target and striker Mauro Icardi was missing from the team-sheet.
The £46million-rated Argentine is being chased by the Gunners and Napoli this summer.
Replacement Jovetic stepped up in his absence but could not inspire the win at the Autzen Stadium in Oregon.
Related Stories
Aurier bagged the opener after 14 minutes when former Newcastle star Ben Arfa’s low shot from a free-kick was palmed into the right-back’s path.
Ex-Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic dragged a well under-par Inter Milan back into the game.
Inter were rewarded a penalty when Lucas Moura handled in the area and Jovetic beat PSG keeper Alphonse Areola from the spot with a stunning strike.
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed by ANOTHER defender in left-back Kurzawa.
The French defender – a second half substitute for Maxwell – curled a beautiful free-kick round the wall and into the left corner of the net past Samir Handanovic with 29 minutes left on the clock.
And Aurier wrapped up the victory for the French champions by heading in from Alec Georgen in the dying moments of the match. Inter’s defence fell asleep and the Italians were duly punished.
Leave a comment