A journeyman once relegated from the Premier League scored a historic Champions League goal to send Paris Saint Germain into the semifinals for the first time
- Eric Choupo-Moting was relegated from the Premier League with Stoke City in 2018 and joined Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer shortly after.
- On Wednesday night, the 31-year-old scored a dramatic 93rd minute goal to help the Parisians past Atalanta and into the Champions League semifinals for the first ever time.
- "When I came on I thought to myself, 'We can't lose, we can't go home like that,'" Choupo-Moting told BT Sport after the game, which Atalanta were winning 1-0 until the 91st minute.
- "I was confident in the team, in myself and the rest is a little history of Paris."
Paris Saint Germain has over $900 million worth of talent in its squad.
However, on a night when it needed a hero, it was a once relegated Premier League flop who joined the club on a free transfer who stepped up to the plate.
Eric Choupo-Moting, who was relegated from the English top flight with Stoke City in 2018 and joined PSG just months later, scored a dramatic 93rd minute winner as the French Champions beat Atalanta on Wednesday night.
In doing so, the French side advanced to the Champions League semifinals for the first time in history.
PSG went behind in just the 26th minute when Mario Pasalic bent in a superb opener, and trailed right until the 90th minute when defender Marquinhos equalized from close range.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Choupo-Moting then slotted home from Kylian Mbappe's low cross to complete the turnaround.
"It was all in all a crazy game, a tough game, tough opponent and I think we showed such good morale until the last second. We believed in us," Choupo-Moting, whose contract at PSG expires at the end of August, told BT Sport after.
"It wasn't easy for us, we has some good occasions, they had a great game, unbelievable game.
"When I came on I thought to myself, 'We can't lose, we can't go home like that.' I was confident in the team, in myself and the rest is a little history of Paris."
The 31-year-old's teammates also lauded him with praise after the victory, including Ander Herrera who described the unlikely hero as "incredible."
"Choupo played an incredible 10 minutes. I absolutely want to talk about him," Herrera told RMC Sport.
"He's going to finish his contract but he's there, he's ready to help, he always does training as if it was the last training of his life. "
Choupo-Moting has made 49 appearances in all competitions for PSG since his move from Stoke, scoring nine goals.
PSG will now face either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the semifinals on August 18.
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