Montpellier top after Lyon-PSG thriller
Saturday, February 25, 2012
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Despite recovering from 4-2 down to earn a 4-4 draw at Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain FC ended Saturday in second place after a narrow win for Montpellier Hérault SC.
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Montpellier Hérault SC are a point clear of Paris Saint-Germain FC at the top of Ligue 1 after Carlo Ancelotti's side − who drew 4-4 at Olympique Lyonnais − failed to respond to their rivals' narrow win against FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
John Utaka (80) settled a tight contest in Montpellier's favour when he headed in Marco Estrada's corner, after both teams had struck the woodwork. The result put pressure on PSG, who responded by scoring four goals in Lyon, but that, remarkably, proved insufficient for victory.
Guillem Hoarau (21) gave PSG the ideal start, but Bafétimbi Gomis' back-post volley (34) levelled matters, before Lisandro (36) and a stunning Michel Bastos strike (40) put the hosts 3-1 up. Nenê's penalty (45+3) kept Ancelotti's men in touch heading into the second period.
The goals continued to flow after the restart, with Jimmy Briand's near-post header (57) restoring the Gones' two-goal advantage. However, Ceará (73) and a dramatic 94th-minute second for Hoarau earned the capital club a draw.
Elsewhere, a 1-0 win for OGC Nice against SM Caen lifted them off the foot of the table, above AJ Auxerre and AS Nancy-Lorraine, who both failed to win.
