PSG title hopes fade after loss at Lille
Reuters - Sunday 29 April 2012, 21:45
(Adds late game)
PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain's titles hopes
suffered a major blow when they lost 2-1 at Lille on Sunday to
stay five points behind Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier with four
games left.
Qatari-backed PSG remained second on 67 points, two ahead of
champions Lille who moved back into contention for automatic
Champions League place.
Unheralded Montpellier took a big step toward their first
league crown when they won 1-0 at Toulouse on Friday.
"It will be more difficult now to clinch the title but we
have to keep on working and believing it's possible," PSG coach
Carlo Ancelotti told Canal+ television.
"We also have to watch our backs to seal our Champions
League qualification because Lille are only two points behind."
"We are disappointed because we did not deserve to lose. It
will be important to react immediately."
PSG, who lost winger Jeremy Menez to injury minutes before
the match, were on track to keep Montpellier within reach when a
Javier Pastore header gave them the lead in the 48th minute.
They were playing well until Mamadou Sakho, who had replaced
injured Milan Bisevac just before halftime, was shown a straight
red card for a foul on substitute Nolan Roux in the 71st minute.
In-form Eden Hazard, who has now scored eight goals and set
up six others in his last eight games, cancelled out the opener
from the penalty spot.
Roux clinched the hosts' victory eight minutes later when he
headed home from close range from a Tulio de Melo header after
Belgian Hazard initiated a superb passing move.
Pastore and Hazard had their chances to score in the first
half but the Argentina playmaker's fine volley hit the woodwork
in the 27th minute. Hazard was also denied by the post.
EUROPEAN CHASE
At Stade Rennes, Julien Feret scored one goal and set up
another to help the hosts climb to fourth place as they defeated
10-man Ajaccio 3-1.
Rennes won their fourth consecutive league match to occupy
the first Europa League spot on 57 points and are one ahead of
French Cup winners Olympique Lyon who have a game in hand.
Feret gave his side the lead when keeper Guillermo Ochoa
deflected a Jires Kembo shot on the woodwork only to see Rennes
playmaker head the ball in on the rebound in the 27th minute.
Razak Boukari doubled their advantage with five minutes to
go as he bent the ball into the top right corner from outside
the box before Yacine Brahimi ran through to seal the victory in
stoppage time following a Feret pass.
Ajaccio, a point and a place above the drop zone, were
reduced to 10 men after just 11 minutes when Samuel Bouhours was
sent off for a harsh tackle on Jonathan Pitroipa. Ilan's 89th
minute goal was of no use.
St Etienne stayed in contention for a European berth as
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 14th goal of the league
season to earn his side a 1-0 home win over lowly Dijon.
Les Verts are sixth on 56 points while Dijon lie 16th on 34
points, one place above Ajaccio but on the same points.
At the bottom, basement side Auxerre kept their thin hopes
of avoiding relegation alive after they thrashed fellow
strugglers Stade Brest 4-0 at home.
Auxerre, who have been playing in Ligue 1 since 1980 and
featured in the Champions League group stage last season, are
three points from safety.
Brest sacked coach Alex Dupont this week after they lost six
of the last seven games and stay 18th on 33 points while Sochaux
are a spot below and on the same points having lost 3-0 at home
to mid-table Girondins Bordeaux as they were reduced to nine
men.
(Reporting by Gregory Blachier; Editing by Mark Meadows)