PSG's Kylian Mbappe scores falling, blind back-heel goal vs. Nantes

Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Paris Saint-Germain soccer stars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar scored second half goals to lead their squad to a 2-0 win against Nantes in a Ligue 1 clash in Paris.

Mbappe scored in the 52nd minute, while Neymar doubled the advantage in the 85th minute of the triumph Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. Mbappe entered PSG's top-10 all-time scoring list after netting the goal. He now has 71 goals for PSG in all competitions.

"We scored a great goal during our best 15 minutes at the start of the second half," PSG manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters. "Unfortunately, it was our only good 15 minutes because after that, we stopped playing as a team. I don't know why, whether we can't or it's just a question of confidence.

"Tonight we will remember the result and that, once again, it was [goalie] Keylor Navas that saved us."

Mbappe's latest score was an absolute beauty.

Fellow strikers Neymar and Angel di Maria teamed up on the right flank at the start of the sequence. Neymar outran several defenders before sending a pass toward the corner flag for Di Maria. The PSG star tracked down the pass and used the outside of his left boot to lift a feed through the box for Mbappe.

The pass was a bit behind the French forward, but Mbappe used his right heel to blindly flick the ball toward the far post, while falling on the ground, beating Nantes keeper Alban Lafont for first blood.

Neymar's score came after PSG earned a penalty kick. Lafont took out PSG's Mauro Icardi in the box to prompt the attempt. Neymar ran up to the spot and beat Lafont with a shot into the right side of the net during the penalty try.

"The main thing was to get the three points [in the Ligue 1 standings]," PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye said. "We know we need to improve. At halftime, the coach asked us to hold onto the ball more and try and release our attackers in behind to try and get that goal. We know that they can score at any time.

"On the counter attack, Angel perfectly found Kylian and that was a superb goal that set us on the way to victory."

PSG battles Montpellier in another Ligue 1 match at 11:30 a.m. EST Saturday at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France.