Ibra brace secures first silverware of the season for PSG

AFP/BeijingFrench Ligue 1 title-holders Paris Saint-Germain added the French Super Cup to their growing list of accolades with a 2-0 win over Guingamp in Beijing yesterday. Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored both goals inside the opening 20 minutes as the champions effectively ended the match as a contest inside the first period. It was the capital-based outfit’s second successive victory in the competition, between the French champions and Cup winners, having defeated Bordeaux in Gabon in 2013. They also won the first ever edition in 1995, beating Nantes on penalties. Ibrahimovic opened the scoring after just nine minutes when taking goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa by surprise with a shot from 20 yards. On 20 minutes he doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after Jean-Christophe Bahebeck was brought down by Lars Jacobsen. The big Swede was enjoying a purple patch and in the last minute tried his luck from inside his own half, although without success. Guingamp’s best opportunity came in the 31st minute when Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos was harshly adjudged to have brought down Claudio Beauvue, but Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who was a virtual spectator throughout, saved Mustapha Yatabare’s spot-kick. PSG begin their quest for a third straight Ligue 1 title this Friday at Reims while Guingamp host Saint-Etienne next Saturday in their opening Ligue 1 fixture of the season. PSG did all of the early pressing and needed just nine minutes to break the deadlock, Ibrahimovic finding the net in typically spectacular fashion.The Sweden striker—captain in the absence of defender Thiago Silva—picked up the ball from Javier Pastore on the edge of area and unleashed a curling effort that left Guingamp goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa with no chance.Guingamp then suffered a further blow as midfielder Julien Cardy was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Rachid Alioui.The problems continued to mount in a disastrous opening 20 minutes for the Brittany club, their misfortune encapsulated in the 19th minute when defender Lars Jacobsen was adjudged to have bundled over Jean-Christophe Bahebeck as they competed for a cross in the area.Ibrahimovic stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, seemingly ending the game as a contest.PSG were camped inside the Guingamp half for almost the entirety of the half and Bahebeck almost added a wonderful third, cleverly jinking his way down the right flank only to be denied by Samassa at the near post.But Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men were offered a lifeline on the half-hour mark as PSG centre-back Marquinhos conceded a penalty, referee Clement Turpin adjudging the Brazilian to have illegally blocked off Claudio Beauvue.However, Yatabare—Guingamp’s top scorer last season—could not keep his composure as his poor spot-kick was well saved by Salvatore Sirigu.The second half was bereft of goalmouth action in comparison to the first, although PSG teenager Hervin Ongenda did fire wide five minutes after the interval. Blanc’s side took their foot off the gas somewhat in stifling conditions, but substitute Edinson Cavani should have made it three when he blazed over the crossbar following a superb through ball from Pastore.But despite Cavani’s profligacy, Guingamp were unable to mount a comeback as the gulf in class proved too much.