(MENAFN- Arab Times) PARIS, Sept 14, (RTRS): Neymar scored a spectacular
last-gasp goal for Paris St Germain that was greeted with more cheers than boos
in a 1-0 Ligue 1 win over Racing Strasbourg on Saturday on his first appearance
of the season following a failed transfer to Barcelona.
The Brazil forward found the back of the net with a bicycle
kick two minutes into stoppage time, drawing mostly applause but a few boos
from the Parc des Princes faithful as he appeared to have put the transfer saga
behind him.
Several banners
targeting Neymar, using graphic language, were also seen in the stands.
PSG lead the
standings with 12 points from five games ahead of their Champions League match
against Real Madrid on Wednesday, for which Neymar will be suspended.
The result left Strasbourg in 18th place on three points.
'It was sublime. It's good for him and good for the team,'
team mate Idrissa Gueye said.
Neymar, who angered
the PSG fans by saying his best memory as a footballer was PSG's humiliating
6-1 defeat by Barca at the Camp Nou in the Champions League in 2017, was booed
by part of the crowd in the first half as he put on a decent performance.
He capped his return with a goal that did not mask PSG's
collective mediocrity.
New keeper Keylor Navas made a couple of brilliant saves as
the visitors threatened on a few occasions while Mauro Icardi was toothless
after coming on as a second-half substitute.
The Argentine
striker, however, will be needed against Real on Wednesday in the absence of
Neymar and the injured Kylian Mbappe.
The French
international was sorely missed, just like Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani who
may come back for the Real clash.
Strasbourg had the
first clear chance when Navas stretched to tip away Ludovic Ajorque's sudden
strike in the 18th minute and PSG did not muster a single shot on target in the
first half, struggling to unsettle a compact defence.
The hosts stepped up
a gear in the closing stages, with Neymar scoring his 21st goal in 20 Ligue 1
games at the Parc des Princes.
He netted again two
minutes later, only for the goal to be ruled out for an offside position. On Friday, Lille beat Angers 2-1 and
Olympique Lyonnais were held 2-2 at Amiens.
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