Mbappe strike continues PSG’s winning run

Kylian Mbappe’s brilliant second-half strike helped Paris St Germain secure a 1-0 win at Toulouse to move closer towards the Ligue 1 title.

Thomas Tuchel’s team, missing several key men, restored their lead at the top of the table to 20 points with an eighth straight league victory.

After Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting sent an early effort over from close range, Marquinhos saw a goal ruled out by VAR for offside.

There was, though, no debating the finish from Mbappe as the 20-year-old World Cup winner took a cross from the right down with a superb first touch before drilling the ball into the far corner.

Toulouse, who had won just one match from the past six at home, started brightly as Jimmy Durmaz fired a shot over from the edge of the penalty area.

Cameroon international Choupo-Moting wasted a great chance to break the deadlock in the 18th minute.

Mbappe broke clear down the left and charged into the Toulouse penalty area before driving in a low angled shot which goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet parried.

The loose ball dropped to Choupo-Moting, but from only a couple of yards out he somehow guided his effort over the crossbar.

Toulouse went close themselves in the 23rd minute.

Durmaz cut in from the right and chipped the ball into the PSG box towards Yaya Sanogo at the far post. The former Arsenal frontman, though, could not get enough power on his left-foot volley to trouble PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

PSG looked to have taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Reynet failed to collect a corner and Presnel Kimpembe’s knockdown was swept home by Marquinhos.

The goal, though, went to VAR review, which showed Marquinhos had been one of three PSG players offside as he bundled the ball over the line from close range.

Boosted by the decision, Toulouse pressed again and saw a glanced header from defender Christopher Jullien following a corner pushed away by a fine reaction save by Areola.

As half-time approached, a fan wearing a PSG training top made it onto the pitch and sprinted towards Mbappe in the centre circle.

The France forward appeared initially shocked, before putting his arm around the man, who was then quickly apprehended by security staff and marched off.

Leandro Paredes drilled a rising shot just over from 25 yards as the first half ended goalless.

Toulouse created their best opening seven minutes into the second half.

Max Gradel carried the ball to the edge of the PSG box and slipped a pass through to Sanogo. Goalkeeper Areola, though, was out quickly and knocked Sanogo’s close-range shot away with his leg.

The Ligue 1 leaders started to up the tempo as the hour mark passed, Colin Dagba’s header back across goal just too far in front of Mbappe as he aimed to knock the ball in at the far post.

PSG finally made the breakthrough in the 74th minute.

Thilo Kehrer floated a deep cross over from the right which Mbappe took down with a superb first touch before firing the ball into the bottom corner, continuing on from his two goals during the international break.