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Helsingborgs IF 1 - 1 Paris Saint-Germain FC
Wed 8 November 20:45
Olympia, Helsingborg

Paris-Saint Germain FC missed out on top place in Champions League Group F and Helsingborgs IF a place in the UEFA Cup, as the two sides drew in Sweden.

Nicolas Anelka put PSG ahead 11 minutes before half-time but the home side delighted their fans at the Olympia Stadium by battling back to claim a deserved equaliser, which was expertly dispatched by Nicklas Persson.

Nicolas Anelka gave PSG the lead (© Reuters)
Fourth time lucky
Anelka missed three excellent opportunities before putting PSG ahead in the 34th minute. Laurent Robert's chip released the French international striker, who after touching the ball over advancing goalkeeper Sven Andersson had the simple task of heading his fourth goal in six matches into the net.
Missed chances
As early as the 8th minute, Anelka might have opened the scoring following a long ball by Robert. He managed to beat the offside trap but in attempting to steer the ball past Andersson, succeeded only in shinning it straight at the Helsingborg custodian.
Anelka connected more firmly when put through on goal again 10 minutes later but the result was the same, with the ball hitting Andersson when it ought to have hit the net.
And the former Arsenal striker was guilty of another appalling blunder in front of goal when after playing a one-two with Augustine Okocha to again leave himself with just the keeper to beat,  he sliced a right-footed volley wide of the near post.

Not alone
Not that Anelka was alone in missing chances in a first-half packed full of them. Helsingborg striker Rade Prica should have put his side ahead on 17 minutes when he fired over after escaping the clutches of the PSG defence.
Just two minutes after Anelka’s goal put PSG in the driving seat, Brazilian Alvaro Santos squandered a golden chance to equalise by shooting straight at goalkeeper Lionel Letizi after turning away from Michael Hansson’s challenge.
In the dying moments of a thrilling first period, Alvaro somewhat atoned for his terrible miss with a fine piece of skill on the right which enabled him to cross for Prica, whose header beat Letizi but was cleared off the line by PSG captain Eric Rabesandratana.

Belief
Even trailing at the start of the second-half, the home side had no reason to doubt that they could find a way back into the match. They had created their fair share of chances and carved PSG open again on 53 minutes, when substitute Hans Eklund fired over after more good work on the right by Alvaro Santos.

Equaliser

Helsingborg’s equaliser, which arrived in the 70th minute, was richly deserved.  When Pierre Ducrocq failed to head Alvaro’s free-kick away with any real purpose, Persson was lurking near the edge of the penalty area and his driven shot into the bottom corner of the net gave Letizi absolutely no chance.
Close shaves
Worse almost followed for Phillipe Bergeroo's side when Johansen’s close range shot was palmed away by Letizi, who was then relieved to see Erik Wahstedht’s effort go just over his crossbar.
PSG almost claimed a late winner through Laurent Leroy, who after receiving Edouard Cisse’s ball wriggled away from Roland Nilsson and saw his shot-on-the-turn blocked by the legs of Andersson.

Bowing out
That would have given PSG a victory they did not deserve. Nanne Bergstrand’s spirited team, having suffered a 6-1 mauling at the hands of Scandinavian rivals Rosenborg BK earlier in the competition, recovered admirably from that utter humiliation and now bow out of the Champions League with their heads held high.


Matches
First Half  1 - 1
34'  9 Anelka  PA
44'  15 Rabesandratana  PA
45'+1  7 U Jansson  HL
Extra 1'00"
Second Half  1 - 1
46'  7 U Jansson (out)
10 Eklund (in)
HL
63'  18 S Johansen  HL
66'  17 Hansson (out)
11 Wahlstedt (in)
HL
71'  14 Persson  HL
75'  11 Robert (out)
22 Yanovski (in)
PA
76'  9 Alvaro (out)
15 Lindstrom (in)
HL
85'  9 Anelka (out)
4 El-Karkouri (in)
PA
86'  20 E Cisse  PA
Extra 2'47"
Full Time Statistics
6 Shots on goal 3
10 Wide shots 3
15 Fouls committed 18
5 Corners 1
2 Off sides 5
28'22" Ball Possession (time) 33'14"
46% Ball Possession (%) 54%
•  
Detailed Match Player Statistics >>
PSG march on, but Swedes take the plaudits
An early exit from the UEFA Champions League always looked on the cards for Helsingborgs IF but after their humiliating 6-1 defeat against Scandinavian rivals Rosenborg BK six weeks ago, they could scarcely have imagined bowing out to a standing ovation at their Olympia Stadium after their final Group F match.
Helsingborg Post-match reaction
PSG held in Sweden
Paris-Saint Germain FC missed out on top place in Champions League Group F and Helsingborgs IF a place in the UEFA Cup, as the two sides drew in Sweden.
Helsingborg look for UEFA Cup berth against PSG
Helsingborgs IF finished off the Swedish season in style with a 4-1 home win over Örgryte IS to clinch second place and an automatic UEFA Cup berth for next season. On Wednesday they look for the win in the UEFA Champions League which would give them a third place finish in Group F and a ticket to this year's UEFA Cup.
Lineups
Helsingborgs IF
1 S Andersson 
3 O Nilsson 
4 R Nilsson 
5 Matovac 
7 U Jansson  (C)
9 Alvaro 
14 Persson 
17 Hansson 
18 S Johansen 
20 Prica 
24 J Jansson 
Substitutes
22 Larsson 
2 Wejsfelt 
10 Eklund 
11 Wahlstedt 
15 Lindstrom 
19 Lindberg 
21 Ekenberg 
Coach
BERGSTRAND Nanne
PSG
16 Letizi 
9 Anelka 
10 Okocha 
11 Robert 
13 Dehu 
15 Rabesandratana  (C)
19 Leroy 
20 E Cisse 
21 Distin 
23 Ducrocq 
26 A Cisse 
Substitutes
1 Casagrande 
2 Kelban 
3 Paisley 
4 El-Karkouri 
5 Luccin 
14 Abriel 
22 Yanovski 
Coach
BERGEROO Philippe
Officials
Referee
POLL Graham (ENG)
Assistant Referee
SHARP Philip (ENG)
GREEN Anthony John (ENG)
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