PSG down Aston Villa to retain UEFA Super Cup

SALZBURG, AUG 13: Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain rubber-stamped their status as Europe's top team as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue netted either side of a debut goal for Villa teenager Brian Madjo in Salzburg as PSG defended the title they first won 12 months ago on penalties against another Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.
The Super Cup, which pits the winners of Europe's top club competition against the victorious side from the second-tier Europa League, was officiated by Somalian referee Omar Artan.
The 34-year-old referee unwittingly found himself in the media spotlight in June after being turned away on arrival at Miami International Airport, despite being part of the panel of referees selected by FIFA for the World Cup.
"This is amazing, winning this trophy is amazing," Doue told TNT Sports.
"This is really difficult, because before this, you have to win the Champions League. We did it again, and we won the Super Cup for the second time, so this is amazing for us."
Ahead of the start of their respective domestic seasons, both sides named relatively strong sides.
PSG's starting XI featured nine players that lifted the Champions League trophy against Arsenal in May, including Vitinha, Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos.
French left-back Lucas Digne, who on Sunday signed for the Parisians, was on the bench against his old side.
Villa rested World Cup campaigners Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins, but Unai Emery handed debuts to midfielder Joao Gomes and striker Madjo.
Midfielder Boubacar Kamara also started for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in January.
PSG broke the deadlock as Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left on 20 minutes and scored with a piledriver at the near post.
The Georgian began to overwhelm the Villa defence as minutes later he released left-back Nuno Mendes, whose cut-back somehow evaded his on-rushing teammates.
But Villa withstood the flurry and should have been level just prior to the half-hour when Madjo glanced wide a John McGinn cross.
The 17-year-old saw another couple of good chances go by as it seemed like Emery's charges would go into the break behind.
However, Madjo got his just reward as Scottish veteran McGinn picked him out again in the box in the 45th minute and this time he lashed the ball with his left boot into the roof of the PSG net.    �"AFP