Football: PSG held in Beckham’s first start

Beckham was unable to inspire his team to victory in a 2-2 draw with Saint-Etienne.

PARIS: David Beckham started his first league game for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) but was unable to inspire his team to victory in a 2-2 draw with Saint-Etienne.

The Ligue 1 title-chasers threw away a 2-0 advantage and the draw means PSG are now five points ahead of Lyon and seven up on Marseille with nine games to play.

Javier Pastore and Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the visitors 2-0 ahead with first-half strikes, but an Alex own-goal just before half-time and a wonderful finish from Francois Clerc with 18 minutes left meant the two sides shared the spoils.

“We’re really disappointed because we should have won and there was a clear foul before the equaliser,” said PSG goal-keeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2013.