American striker Tim Weah earned his first career start for Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain against Caen on Saturday, closing out the season leading the line on a young starting XI for the French champion.
Weah, 18, is the son of former Ballon d’Or winner and current president of Liberia George Weah. He represented the USMNT at the youth levels in spectacular fashion, including a great hat trick at the U-17 World Cup in October. He earned his first senior-level cap in March against Paraguay.
Weah debuted for PSG in March, making a substitute appearance against Troyes. He made a second substitute appearance against FC Metz a week later and celebrated the Ligue 1 title with the team earlier this month (unlike Neymar).
But Saturday marked Tim Weah’s first start for PSG, which had already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title with little difficulty.
Timothy Weah to make his first start for @PSG_English tonight !#AllezParis pic.twitter.com/v3OYBcFGJs
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 19, 2018
Weah lined up alongside 20-year-old French winger Christopher Nkunku and Argentine veteran Javier Pastore in a 4-3-3 formation from PSG, for which his father scored 55 goals in three seasons in the early 90s.
LINEUP CONFIRMED: Here is PSG's final Starting XI of the season Caen ! #SMCPSG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 19, 2018
The match was also a farewell for Thiago Motta, who will leave PSG after the season. Perhaps PSG will replace him with another Italian who said farewell to his club on Saturday?
Weah started well and really should have had an assist in the fourth minute. The American pressed high up the pitch to create a turnover in the opposition box and laid a perfect pass off to Pastore, but the Argentine scuffed his shot wide.
Timothy Weah creates a great early chance for #PSG! Blocks the clearance from the Caen GK, chases down the defender and steals the ball, then cuts it back for Javier Pastore--who really should've scored. #SMCPSG #USMNT pic.twitter.com/yMrgvWzsRP
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) May 19, 2018
But Weah’s defensive efforts then earned him a yellow card in the ninth minute.
Timothy Weah gets booked. It was a late challenge, but don't really mind that yellow card because he was working hard and trying to close down the defender. Exuberant effort early on from the 18 year old.#PSG #SMCPSG #AllezParis #USMNT pic.twitter.com/NKmwCmXg5M
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) May 19, 2018
The match finished in a 0-0 draw, with neither side able to break the deadlock. PSG had nearly three quarters of the possession but Caen had more shots, 11-7.
The Tim Weah first start wasn’t the only positive for young USMNT players abroad on Saturday. Matt Miazga, on loan from Chelsea, scored for Vitesse with a nice header.
Matt Miazga has scored for #Vitesse against #Utrecht in the 2nd leg of the #UEL Playoffs Final. Powerful near post header off a corner, though the GK should've done much better. Vitesse lead 2-0 at half-time, and 5-2 on aggregate. #UTRVIT #Eredivisie #USMNT pic.twitter.com/iOeHdBVlNo
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) May 19, 2018
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