four-goal ibrahimović leaves anderlecht in a spin published: wednesday 23 october 2013, 22.52cet
rsc anderlecht 0-5 paris saint-germain fc
four goals from zlatan ibrahimović, including a sublime first-half hat-trick, inspired the ligue 1 club to their biggest european away victory.
by david crossan from constant vanden stock stadium
zlatan ibrahimović scored four goals as paris saint-germain fc won 5-0 – their biggest european away victory – at rsc anderlecht to maintain their perfect record at the head of group c.
the sweden captain was in irrepressible mood as he became only the 11th player to hit four or more in a uefa champions league game. he registered three times between the 17th and 36th minutes and added a fourth for good measure after the hour to make it an incredible ten goals in his last five matches for club and country. edinson cavani struck in the 52nd minute as last season's quarter-finalists underlined their potency with a third successive continental success.
psg's salvatore sirigu was the first goalkeeper called into serious action when he tipped a low shot from matías suárez around the upright. yet ibrahimović stole the show thereafter and in the 12th minute beat the offside trap only to narrowly miss at the near post having rounded thomas kaminski.
the respite was purely temporary for anderlecht as, five minutes later, ibrahimović tapped in an excellent gregory van der wiel cross from the right. cavani had played an integral part in the goal, working a two-on-one situation with the adventurous full-back.
van der wiel and ibrahimović combined again in the 22nd minute, the centre-forward applying a deft flicked finish to another accurate low delivery. the psg captain flummoxed kaminski as he brought his right foot behind his left to convert at the front post.
ibrahimović saved his best for his hat-trick goal, powering a first-time effort from 25 metres past kaminski after bursting onto cheikhou kouyaté's clearing header. such was the ferocity of the strike that it drew gasps and an ovation from all sections of the ground. revelling in the acclaim, the no10 graciously returned the applause.
early in the second period, cavani netted from close range after blaise matuidi had pounced on a chancel mbemba slip, making this the first game in which both ibrahimović and cavani had scored when on the field at the same time.
the swede then brought up his quadruple with a pinpoint diagonal shot in off the far post following fine work from marco verratti. the 32-year-old nearly got a fifth after more sublime skill and, with the striker in this form, psg will be confident of sealing progress to the round of 16 in the return fixture on matchday four.
