Kylian Mbappe sets aside World Cup heartbreak to score late winner for PSG

French striker nets injury-time penalty in 2-1 win over Strasbourg after Neymar had been sent off

Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring Paris Saint-Germain's second goal from penalty spot during the Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Wednesday, December 28, 2022. AP

Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Achraf Hakimi after scoring a penalty for PSG against Strasbourg. AFP

Kylian Mbappe after scoring his match-winning penalty. AFP

Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a penalty against Strasbourg. AFP

Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi. AFP

Neymar argues with referee Clement Turpin after being shown a red card. AP

Neymar dives in the penalty area to earn a second yellow card. AFP

Neymar argues with referee Clement Turpin. AFP

Marquinhos celebrates after scoring the opening goal for PSG. EPA

Strasbourg's Adrien Thomasson and teammates celebrate after equalising through an own gal from Marquinhos. Reuters

Strasbourg players celebrate the own goal scored by Marquinhos. Reuters

Kylian Mbappe said he refused to let his World Cup heartbreak affect Paris Saint-Germain after the French striker scored an injury-time penalty to seal a 2-1 win over Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Wednesday night.

Making his first appearance for PSG 10 days on from France's 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina, during which he scored a hat-trick, Mbappe was a constant menace for but was unable to find the target with two clear-cut chances.

However, deep into second-half injury time he was brought down in the penalty area and converted the winner from the spot in the 96th minute.

After the game, Mbappe said of the World Cup defeat: "I think I'm never going to get over it.

"As I said to my teammates, there is no reason why the club should pay the price for the failure of the national team, they are two very different situations."

PSG earlier had Neymar sent off for two yellow cards as the Brazilian made an unhappy return to action following his country's elimination in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Captain Marquinhos had put the hosts ahead with an early header but the Brazilian defender scored an own goal after 51 minutes as some of PSG's stars appeared to lack sharpness following their exploits in Qatar.

Neymar picked up a yellow for a petulant flick in the face of a Strasbourg player and then earned another for a blatant dive in the penalty area just after the hour.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi was absent from the PSG lineup after his World Cup-winning heroics.

The victory put PSG eight points ahead of Lens, who must beat Nice on Thursday to close the gap.

PSG also announced that their 30-year-old Italian midfielder Marco Verratti has extended his stay at the club until 2026.