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Four unanswered goals Pandiani hat trick lifts Deportivo over PSG 4-3
Updated: Wednesday March 07, 2001 7:46 PM
LA CORUNA, Spain (AP) -- Deportivo La Coruna came back from a three-goal deficit for a stunning 4-3 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Group B Wednesday. The comeback victory -- made possible by Walter Pandiani's second-half hat trick -- boosted Deportivo's chances of making it to the quarterfinals. La Coruna can now lose its last group match against AC Milan by a goal and still advance. Paris Saint-Germain began its rally with a goal from midfielder Jay Jay Okocha in the 29th minute. Laurent Leroy strengthened the lead after an impressive break through the Deportivo defense in the 43rd minute. It looked like defeat was sealed for Deportivo when Leroy scored again, easily knocking in a cross from midfielder Jimmy Algerino in the 55th minute. But the Spanish side suddenly mustered its forces and began attacking, creating plenty of opportunities. Pandiani touched off the comeback in the 58th minute with a leaping header that defied gravity and evidently restored his team's faith, because it was followed only two minutes later with a goal by Diego Tristan. After a few close calls, Pandiani drew even with only 15 minutes to go in regulation time. He took a ball served across the goal by fellow forward Roy Makaay and calmly headed it back in front of the PSG goalkeeper. Pandiani netted again in the 84th to finish his scoring streak. Deportivo and Milan face each other on March 13 in the Italian city. Aerial power all part of Irureta's gameplanDeportivo Coruna coach Javier Irureta was thankful for the aerial power of his two substitutes as the Spanish champions launched a stirring second-half comeback against Paris St Germain on Wednesday. Irureta introduced Walter Pandiani and Diego Tristan in the second half of the group B clash and watched as his side hauled themselves back from 3-0 down to win 4-3. All four goals, a hat trick from Pandiani and one from Tristan, came from headers and Irureta revealed that was all part of the game plan after going in at the interval two goals down. "I brought on Pandiani because of his strength in the air," said Irureta, whose side now need a draw in their final game away at AC Milan to book a place in the quarterfinals. "I wanted to concentrate our play down the flanks and take advantage of that aerial power. "Tristan then came on with the same idea -- to really force our play on the wing. I can't stress that enough." Deportivo's fightback from 3-0 down was the best in the Champions League since Werder Bremen beat Anderlecht 5-3 after being 3-0 down after 33 minutes in 1993. Irureta said he always believed such a comeback was possible, on the evidence of recent performances in the Spanish league, but chided his side for losing the initiative early on. "Against Barcelona we came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 and against Real Madrid we were 2-0 down and ended up drawing so I did think we could do it," he said. "I don't want this to become a habit, though, because another side might have put us out of the game." PSG coach Luis Fernandez also referred to those two Champions League games against the Spanish giants as he reflected on an astonishing defeat. "Everything is possible in football and Deportivo had already come back against Barcelona and Real," he said. "We'll have to gain experience from this. "Deportivo did very well from dead-ball situations. After their first goal went in they gained in morale. The fans also gave them the strength to go on and complete the job. "My players can leave with their heads held high. We played good football in the first half. "I sincerely believe we didn't deserve to lose."
SummaryScorers: Deportivo Coruna - Walter Pandiani 57, 76, 84, Diego Tristan 60 Paris St Germain - Augustine Okocha 29, Laurent Leroy 43, 55 Halftime: 0-2; Attendance: 23,000 Teams: Deportivo Coruna: 13-Jose Molina; 2-Manuel Pablo, 3-Enrique Romero, 4-Nourredine Naybet, 20-Donato; 18-Victor, 14-Emerson (17-Walter Pandiani 46), 8-Djalminha, 6-Mauro Silva, 10-Fran (9-Diego Tristan 59); 7-Roy Makaay (12-Lionel Scaloni 85) Paris St Germain: 16-Lionel Letizi; 24-Bernard Mendy, 26-Aliou Cisse, 13-Frederic Dehu, 21-Sylvain Distin, 17-Jimmy Algerino; 23-Pierre Ducrocq, 10-Augustine Okocha (22-Igor Yanovski 71), 8-Ali Benarbia (15-Eric Rabesandratana 59), 34-Mikel Arteta, 19-Laurent Leroy Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)
Reuters contributed to this report.
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