PSG's Cavani shows his worth with winner against Chelsea

Paris St Germain substitute
Edinson Cavani, criticised by French media
lacking composure in front of goal,
responded in style to earn a 2-1 home win over
Chelsea in their Champions League last-16 first leg on
Tuesday.
The Uruguay forward, who has scored only once in
Ligue 1 this year, fired a low angled shot past
goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 78th minute after
John Obi Mikel had cancelled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic's
opener at the end of the first half.
That did not surprise PSG coach Laurent Blanc, who
brought Cavani on for Lucas four minutes before he
got the winner.
“I’m not just saying it because he scored tonight, I
always say it, Eddy is a player who can score,” Blanc
told a news conference. “He was going through a
tough period so I hope it will give him his confidence
back.”
PSG knocked Chelsea out on away goals at the same
stage last year after the Blues had prevailed the
previous season in the quarter-finals and have the
edge going into the second leg.
It was Chelsea's first defeat in 13 games since
Dutchman Guus Hiddink took over from the sacked
Jose Mourinho but they will fancy their chances at
Stamford Bridge on March 9.
With Chelsea's inspirational captain John Terry ruled
out with a hamstring injury, Branislav Ivanovic moved
from full back to central defence and wore the
skipper’s armband.
Marco Verratti started for PSG having only just
recovered from a groin injury, while Blanc chose to
field Marquinhos on the right side of defence in place
of the Serge Aurier, who has been suspended for
insulting Blanc and several team mates.
Chelsea had the best chance midway through the first
half when striker Diego Costa’s point-blank header was
instinctively palmed on to the bar by PSG keeper
Kevin Trapp.
Ibrahimovic, who was sent off in London last year and
picked up a yellow card on Tuesday, broke the
deadlock six minutes before halftime with a low free
kick deflected past Courtois by the heel of Obi Mikel,
who had fouled Brazilian Lucas.
But Chelsea hit back just before the interval when
Costa deflected a corner into the path of Mikel, who
controlled the ball before firing home his first goal in
14 months.
Lucas was replaced in the 74th minute by Cavani who
had an immediate impact, collecting Angel Di Maria’s
perfect pass on the right and scoring with a low shot
through Courtois's legs.