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Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his first Champions League goal. Alamy Stock Photo
From The 42In form
Troy Parrott scores winning goal on Champions League debut as Betis earn hard-fought victory
Manuel Pellegrini’s side came from behind twice to defeat Lille.
Champions League:
Lille 2
Real Betis 3
TROY PARROTT WAS the hero again for Real Betis, as they began life in this season’s Champions League with a 3-2 defeat of French side Lille.
After his winner against Real Madrid on Friday, the Irish international scored the decisive goal in a victory that saw Manuel Pellegrini’s side twice come from behind.
Ayase Ueda gave the hosts the lead before Marc Bartra equalised just after the half-hour mark.
Lille re-took the lead thanks to Alexsandro Ribeiro’s goal, but Bartra scored again just after half-time.
Parrott’s clinical finish in the 53rd minute gave Betis a lead that they never surrendered.
A red card for Ethan Mbappé – younger brother of Kylian – compounded the Ligue 1 outfit’s woes.
It was the first time Parrott completed 90 minutes for the Spanish side, and the 24-year-old now has two goals from four appearances with the side he joined from AZ Alkmaar for €20 million in the summer.
Written by Paul Fennessy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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