going -- and he still wanted to, which tells you

PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germains attack bailed out its shaky defense in an unconvincing 3-0 win against Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday.By the time winger Angel Di Maria scored five minutes before halftime, the visitors had already missed several chances in a match more even than the result suggested. Better sides would have punished PSG.We conceded a few chances because of bad positioning. Our defense wasnt always in place, PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot said. You need some luck in this type of game.Brazilian striker Lucas netted in the 62nd minute with his seventh goal of a productive season, and striker Edinson Cavani added a third with an injury-time penalty for his 13th goal in 11 games.Finishing aside, it was sloppy stuff from a PSG side with its sights set on winning the Champions League for the first time.It was a very difficult game for us, particularly at the start, Lucas said. Our second half was much better.The result, which keeps PSG level on seven points with Group A leader Arsenal, was ultimately harsh on a Basel side that looked slick and impressive going forward, yet can also only blame itself for hitting the post three times from close range.Were going home empty-handed and that hurts, Basel coach Urs Fischer said. Basel should have been 2-0 up but that makes no difference in the end.Di Marias goal ended a barren run of 17 games without a goal for club and country.He smashed the ball into the roof of the net following good work from Blaise Matuidi down the left. It was his first goal since scoring for Argentina against Chile at the Copa America in June, and first for PSG since the League Cup final against Lille on April 23.Lucas guided the ball into the bottom right corner from just inside the area following a cross from the left by Serge Aurier.With the clock running into injury time, Cavani was tripped in the penalty area and slammed the spot kick down the middle.All well-taken goals but the first half highlighted PSGs limitations rather than showcasing its credentials as a Champions League contender -- and the way PSG players celebrated with enthusiasm in front of their fans was somewhat misplaced.Basel, not a European force by any reckoning, clearly exposed PSGs defensive fragility on set pieces and new coach Unai Emery still has much work to do to make his French team a compact unit.We will work to do better, Emery said. But its a question of the defense and the attack, to improve the positioning of our players in order to improve our balance.Having led Sevilla to three straight Europa League titles, the Spaniard was hired over the summer to take PSG further in the Champions League.PSG has gone out at the quarterfinal stage in the past four seasons. But on this evidence, PSG looks some way off being a contender.The first half wasnt good, thats the truth, Emery said. It was easier at 1-0 because our opponents opened up.With PSG midfielder Thiago Motta sidelined, there was little protection in front of the defense, and Basel poured into the space. With the inexperienced goalkeeper Alphonse Areola unable to properly command his back four, crosses were poorly dealt with.If you count the chances, we should have had at least a point, Fischer said. We showed that we could put PSG in danger at home.Basel right back Michael Lang headed against the crossbar in the fifth minute after a corner to the back post was nodded back by Iceland midfielder Birkir Bjarnason.Moments later, attacking midfielder Renato Steffen sprinted clean through, drawing a fine save from Areola. Although the rebound came to him quickly, Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia should have kept his shot down.Just before Di Marias goal, Doumbia headed against the post from another cross.Moments after Lucas scored, Basel hit the woodwork again through Czech center back Marek Suchy.Arsenal thrashed Bulgarian champion Ludogorets 6-0 to go top of the group on goal difference.Michael Perez Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Hoby Milner Jersey . However, he did make them miss him a little less. 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Jalen Beeks Rays Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons have lost another defender with safety Kemal Ishmael getting placed on injured reserve.Coach Dan Quinn said Friday that Ishamel has played much of the season with an aching shoulder and decided this week to undergo season-ending surgery.The Falcons (8-5) host San Francisco (1-12) on Sunday and will be without All-Pro receiver Julio Jones for the second game because of a sprained toe. Wideout Mohamed Sanu returned to practice Friday after missing last weeks win over the Los Angeles Rams because of a groin injury.Quinn indicated Sanu should be ready to start.Receiver J.D. McKissic, signed as an undrafted free agent from Arkansas State in May, will be promoted from the practice squad to take Ishmaels place on the 53-man roster.Ishmael has started 19 of 49 career games. He left the Rams game with a knee injury and did not return.Quinn said he will be particularly missed on special teams.dddddddddddde took it as far as you can, Quinn said. When he got to where he couldnt keep going -- and he still wanted to, which tells you the kind of competitor he is -- it was best to have that fixed.Atlanta already lost its best defensive player, cornerback Desmond Trufant, to season-ending shoulder surgery two weeks ago, and veteran linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was finished after rupturing his Achilles in Week 4.Defensive tackle Adrian Clayborn will miss his third straight game with a knee injury. Cornerback Jalen Colins is out with an aching knee. Safety Robenson Therezie wont play because of a sore ankle, and receiver Nick Williams is sidelined with a concussion.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '