A last-minute goal denied Paris Saint-Germain their first win of the new French League season as Jonathan Pitroipa bagged a point for hosts Stade Rennes in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
PSG looked as if they would belatedly get their season into gear and take the points after a Kevin Gameiro goal gave the capital club a 73rd-minute lead.
However, Burkina Faso striker Pitroipa’s breakaway effort right at the death, firing beyond goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, ensured that the nouveaux riches Parisians, flush with Qatari cash, dropped vital points again on the heels of last week’s false start, which brought a 1-0 home reverse to Gameiro’s old side Lorient.
Photo: AFP
PSG coach Antoine Kombouare was a frustrated man afterward.
“I have mixed feelings — the first feeling being one of disappointment as the win was there for the taking with just a couple of minutes left. We have to be more solid and less naive, but you learn from your mistakes and I hope this is the first and the last time,” he said. “Secondly, I can draw great satisfaction in that we showed we have the makings of a side — we were [the Rennes goal apart] solid and disciplined.”
“We are down because overall we played well and had chances, so it is a shame to have let in the late goal. We mustn’t make a drama of it and look at the things we did well and draw on that,” PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi said.
Prior to Pitroipa’s late intervention, Gameiro appeared to have done enough to seal victory as he neatly finished after Jeremy Menez had crossed into the box for PSG’s first goal in five years at Rennes.
PSG, who have spent 80 million euros (US$114 million) during the summer in a bid to chase down a first league title since 1994, were not the only top side kicking themselves over dropped points as Olympique Lyon also had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate, in their case at home to promoted AC Ajaccio.
Argentine forward Lisandro Lopez saved Lyon’s embarrassment with an 83rd-minute leveler after Frederic Sammaritano had put their Corsican visitors ahead on the hour.
The point, added to an opening-day win at OGC Nice, left Lyon on four points sharing joint fourth spot with Rennes.
However, it is Toulouse, Stade Malherbe Caen and former giants AS Saint-Etienne who are setting the pace after the trio all recorded their second win in as many games on Saturday.
Toulouse, first day winners at Ajaccio, saw off promoted Dijon FCO 2-0 with Turk Umut Bulut and Paulo Machado — from the penalty spot — on target while a last-minute goal from Sylvain Marchal gave Saint-Etienne, buoyant after a shock win at Girondins de Bordeaux, a 1-0 win over AS Nancy-Lorraine.
Meanwhile, Caen thanked goals from Romain Hamouna and Pierre-Alain Frau for a 2-1 success at Sochaux-Montbeliard.
It was an emotional return for Frau, who won the title last season with Lille only not to have his contract renewed, as the 31-year-old was a big Sochaux favorite earlier in his career before going on to win the league with Lyon and then LOSC Lille Metropole.
Elsewhere, Lorient held Bordeaux 1-1, while Valenciennes and Stade Brestois 29 played to a scoreless draw.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely