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Ousmane Dembélé completes second career hat trick at right time for PSG

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Ousmane Dembélé completes second career hat trick at right time for PSG
News

News

Ousmane Dembélé completes second career hat trick at right time for PSG

2025-01-30 06:14 Last Updated At:06:23

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembélé completed the second hat trick of his career Wednesday, and it was good timing for his team.

The France forward achieved the feat in the 54th minute as PSG built a 4-0 lead at Stuttgart in their Champions League game. PSG won the game 4-1 and advanced to the knockout round.

Dembélé scored three goals in succession after Bradley Barcola gave PSG an early lead in the sixth minute.

Dembélé said playing in a No. 9 role has helped him become more decisive.

“As soon as I take the best of a player, I find myself in front of goal,” he said after winning the man-of-the-match trophy. “I had the lucidity to score and was also very well assisted by my teammates.”

The 27-year-old Dembélé has scored four goals in six Champions League matches this season.

His previous hat trick was in 2016, when as a teenager he netted three goals for Rennes in a 4–1 victory over Nantes in Ligue 1.

PSG got off a strong start and transformed its dominance into a lead from a corner. Barcola finished off the move with a header at the far post for his second consecutive goal in the tournament from Désiré Doué’s clever flick.

Dembélé doubled PSG's lead in the 17th and made it 3-0 in the 35th. According to Opta statistics, PSG had not led 3-0 so quickly in a Champions League match since 2013.

After a stuttering campaign marred by three defeats, PSG got back into playoff contention after coming back from 2-0 down to win 4-2 against Manchester City last week.

“We have been playing well recently, we control possession and we win matches,” Dembélé said. “The team's spirit is very good.”

PSG was without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was not qualified to play due to UEFA rules after joining from Napoli earlier this month.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

PSG's Ousmane Dembele, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

PSG's Ousmane Dembele, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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Trump says federal government should 'take over' DC, backing congressional GOP push

2025-02-20 11:08 Last Updated At:11:10

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday threw his support behind congressional efforts for a federal takeover of the nation's capital, saying he approves putting the District of Columbia back under direct federal control.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump complained about crime and homelessness in the district, saying, “I think we should take over Washington, D.C. — make it safe.” He added, "I think that we should govern District of Columbia.”

Under terms of the city’s Home Rule authority, Congress already vets all D.C. laws and can outright overturn them. Some congressional Republicans have sought to go further, eroding decades of the city’s limited autonomy and putting it back under direct federal control, as it was at its founding.

Trump said he liked District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser personally, but complained about the city's governance.

“They’re not doing the job,” Trump said. “Too much crime, too much — too many tents on the lawns — these magnificent lawns.”

He argued that he can't have sights of homelessness when he hosts foreign leaders in Washington. “You just can’t let that happen,” Trump said. “You can’t have tents on all your beautiful — your once magnificent plaza and lawns.”

President Donald Trump, followed by Elon Musk, arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md, after returning from Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump, followed by Elon Musk, arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md, after returning from Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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