Welcome to 2014, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still ‘The Zlatan’, something he reminded Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou five minutes into today’s Coupe de la Ligue semifinal.
That’s where Paris Saint-Germain was in action on Tuesday, with early pressure from the Parisian attackers forcing the Nantes keeper into a clearance that could only euphemistically be called ill-advised. Playing Rafa Nadal to Riou’s ‘dude who should not play tennis against Rafa Nadal’, Ibra’s return sailed 30 yards before flexing the back of the net, cruising just under the crossbar and over a spawning Riou to give PSG an unlikely opening score.
Then again, was it really that unlikely? Given some of the other feats we’ve been Zlatan perform, today’s goal was relatively easy. It’s not like this is a scorpion kick around a diving defender (against Bologna six years ago) or a 30-yard bicycle kick to cap a four-goal day (against England last year).
Given who we’re talking about, there’s nothing unlikely about it. If you’re reading, Zlatan, I’m sorry I suggested otherwise.
Nantes would go on to pull the goal back nine minutes from time, resilience that only angered Ibra. In the 90th minute, Ibrahimovic’s second goal of the day gave PSG a 2-1 lead, putting Ligue 1’s leaders into the competition’s final.