PSG end 2015 with victory against Inter in Qatar

Teenager Jean-Kevin Augustin scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain rounded off a dominant 2015 with victory against Inter Milan in a friendly in Qatar on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old slotted home the winner from an acute angle just a minute before half-time, following fine work from midfielder Marco Verratti.

The result was just reward for PSG's dominant display although they were made to work by the Italian league leaders in a game that brought the curtain down on the French champions' four-day winter tour to Qatar.

"We're very satisfied (with the tour)," said PSG coach Laurent Blanc. "On a sports level and a commercial level it was very brief but it was very well done."

Despite being a friendly, both sides could have scored several times and there was enough entertainment for the 11,628 spectators in Doha.
Augustin, who had played only six times for PSG before Wednesday, could also have scored after just 36 seconds, missing a great chance by blazing over from some 15 yards when clean through on Inter's goal.

Star draw Zlatan Ibrahimovic, booed by some Inter fans, also went close forcing a fine save from Samir Handanovic in the 13th minute.

But despite their dominance of possession, PSG were opened up several times by Inter and the Italians almost broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Martin Montoya was denied by Kevin Trapp.

Closest of all before the goal though was Verratti who thundered a shot against the bar in the 29th minute, with Handanovic well beaten.

- 'Fizzled out' -

The match largely fizzled out in the second half -- though there were chances for PSG's Adrien Rabiot and Inter's Stevan Jovetic -- as both teams made wholesale changes.

Inter almost forced an equaliser through Yuto Nagatomo in the 81st minute, but Trapp denied the Italians again.

Inter, who started with just five players from the team which lost 2-1 at home to Lazio in their last league outing on December 20, made 10 substitutions in the second period.

PSG made five, with Ibrahimovic going off in the 64th minute to a mixture of cheers and jeers.
Notably, Blanc did not bring on almost all of his South American stars who had jetted into Qatar just over 24 hours before.

The runaway Ligue 1 leaders return to domestic action on January 9 against Bastia.

"We're ready (for the second part of the season)," said Blanc.

"I hope that 2016 will be as good as 2015, it will be difficult. We are capable but most of all we are aware of the work ahead of us."

PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi added: "We're happy because we have worked well and I hope it will bear fruit for the rest of the season."

Inter coach Roberto Mancini said he had been impressed by PSG as his side return to Serie A action on January 6 against Empoli.

"I think at this moment Paris is one of the best teams in Europe, they have top players and have every chance of winning the Champions League," said Mancini.
Source: AFP