Tue, Oct 06, 2015 page19

• Ibrahimovic breaks record in PSG win

  PENALTIES PAY: The Sweden international converted both of his spot-kicks against Marseille, who could have salvaged a draw had Abdelaziz Barrada scored his penalty

  • AFP, PARIS
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  Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the leading goal-scorer in Paris Saint-Germain’s history on Sunday as the reigning Ligue 1 champions extended their lead at the top following a 2-1 victory over rivals Olympique de Marseille.

  Michy Batshuayi nodded in the opener after 30 minutes at the Parc des Princes to give Marseille the lead, but Ibrahimovic tucked away a pair of penalties in the space of three minutes just before the break.

  Ibrahimovic’s second spot-kick saw the Sweden striker surpass former Portugal international Pauleta’s 109-goal record and write himself into the club’s history books.

  

  Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring against Olympique de Marseille in their Ligue 1 match at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Sunday.

  Photo: AFP

  Kevin Trapp then ensured the home side’s lead remained intact early in the second half as he kept out an Abdelaziz Barrada penalty to help PSG extend their advantage over second-place Angers SCO to five points.

  A minute’s silence was observed prior to kick-off for the victims of Saturday’s heavy flooding on the French Riviera that claimed 17 lives, with four people still missing.

  Marseille belied their lowly league position of 16th as Remy Cabella and Romain Alessandrini carved out early chances.

  

  Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic receives an award after becoming the club’s leading all-time goal-scorer following his side’s Ligue 1 match against Olympique de Marseille at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Sunday.

  Photo: EPA

  However, the visitors needed an intervention from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to deny Ibrahimovic on 22 minutes, as the France international raced off his line to block a follow-up effort from the striker.

  Mandanda then had to be at full stretch a few minutes later to prevent Angel di Maria’s curling effort from nestling inside the far post.

  Marseille remained a threat going forward, though, and duly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Batshuayi beat David Luiz to Barrada’s cross to head past Trapp for his sixth goal this season.

  However, a woeful back pass toward his own goal from Batshuayi four minutes before half time proved costly, with PSG awarded a penalty after Mandanda collided with Ibrahimovic.

  Ibrahimovic duly converted from the spot to draw level with Pauleta’s mark and repeated the trick three minutes later to put PSG ahead and claim the record outright of 110 goals after Rolando had handled following a corner.

  Marseille won a penalty of their own 10 minutes into the second period as Serge Aurier sent Barrada sprawling, but the Morocco international saw his effort turned away by Trapp.

  Javier Pastore should have put the game out of Marseille’s reach on 78 minutes, but the Argentine substitute was thwarted by a stunning reflex save from Mandanda.

  PSG were then indebted to Trapp again in stoppage-time as the German repelled a close-range effort from Cabella to ensure all three points.

  AS Monaco’s stuttering early-season form continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Stade Rennais, while Stade Malherbe Caen rose to third, level on points with promoted Angers, after beating AS Saint-Etienne 1-0.

  Rennes, whose terrific start has somewhat subsided after a fourth consecutive draw, took a first-half lead at the Stade Louis II through Abdoulaye Doucoure.

  However, Monaco fought back after the break with Brazilian Wallace scoring his first Ligue 1 goal to salvage a point for Leonardo Jardim’s men, who also had Danijel Subasic to thank for a second-half penalty save from Pedro Henrique.

  Caen registered a fourth win in five as Andy Delort’s 62nd-minute goal was enough to give them all three points against Saint-Etienne as les Verts slumped to a second successive defeat, having entered the weekend in second place.

  Lorient rallied from a goal down to beat Girondins de Bordeaux 3-2, with Benjamin Moukandjo, Majeed Waris and Zargo Toure all on target for the hosts after Diego Rolan had given Willy Sagnol’s men a first-half lead.

  Both teams finished with 10 men as Lorient’s Lamine Gassama and Bordeaux’s Andre Biyogo Poko were dismissed near the end before Adam Ounas pulled one back for the visitors.
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