PSG aided by own goal for the ages in hard-fought win over gritty Lyon

Paris Saint-Germain survived a Lyon’s fight-back sans Neymar to labor to a hard-fought 4-2 win assisted by a Fernando Marcal’s stunning own goal on Sunday.

Defending champions and current leaders PSG were nicely cruising with Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe putting them 2-0 ahead in the first of the game against Lyon , who have a turbulent season.

Marcal’s howler added to their tally as the lead swelled to 3-0, leaving Lyon facing another heavy defeat in Paris, where they were crushed 5-0 last season.

But Martin Terrier and Moussa Dembele pulled it with back for Lyon to salvage some pride as Edoison Cavani scored a late goal to hand PSG another victory. With the win, PSG have stretched their lead to 12 pints over second place Marseille, who have 49 points.

“Normally after a goal like that the game is over,” said coach Thomas Tuchel of the own goal. “But we were not disciplined enough and it was a lesson for us that it’s never over.”

PSG’s performance showcased why they can ill afford to be complacent heading into their Champions League last 16, first leg match away to Borussia Dortmund on Feb.18, even if sporting director Leonardo insisted to Canal Plus that the tie was “not life or death” for the Qatar-owned club.

They will hope to have Neymar back by then. The world’s most expensive player sat out a second consecutive match here due to a rib complaint.

 “We play a lot of games and errors happen but I don’t know if it’s the time to be too critical,” Tuchel added.

 “The team was great and we can’t forget we were without lots of key players.”

 Without Neymar — as well as his injured compatriots, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, in defence — Tuchel’s side made it eight straight wins and stretched their unbeaten run to 21 games in all competitions.

 Lyon, meanwhile, have not won in three and this result leaves the seven-time former champions in ninth place.  They are eight points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots and their upcoming European double-header against Juventus looks certain to be a step too far for them.

 How Rudi Garcia’s side must have wished this match had been postponed due to the swirling wind and rain caused by Storm Ciara — which left ticker-tape from pre-match fan displays strewn all over the pitch — as they struggled to keep up with PSG in the first half.

 PSG broke forward to open the scoring midway through the first half as Idrissa Gueye fed Di Maria to cut in from the right and beat Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes with a low strike at his near post.

 Thomas Meunier then squared for Mbappe to score his 15th league goal of the season in the 38th minute after fine work by Mauro Icardi, and both Icardi and Mbappe also had goals disallowed for offside before the interval.

 Then, two minutes after the break, came what looked like the coup de grace.

 An attempted cutback by Julian Draxler was going nowhere before Thiago Mendes intervened, allowing Draxler to keep the ball in play and return it to the edge of the six-yard box, where the hapless Marcal slammed it into the roof of his own net.

 Nevertheless, Lyon hit back with Terrier’s shot squirming under the body of Keylor Navas before Karl Toko Ekambi teed up Dembele to convert his 13th in the league this season just prior to the hour mark.  Mbappe had another effort ruled out and then hit the woodwork, and it was not until the introduction of Cavani — the fans’ favourite reduced to role of bit-part player — that the home side made sure of the points.

 Agencies