PSG beats Caen 4-2 to stay top in French league

Posted Sunday, October 30, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

PARIS (AP)—Paris Saint-Germain beat 10-man Caen 4-2 Saturday to keep a three-point lead over Montpellier in the French league.

Defender Thomas Heurtaux headed in a corner in the 12th minute to give Caen the lead, but PSG midfielder Nene leveled in the 20th by converting a penalty after Benjamin Nivet had fouled him and was sent off.

PSG striker Kevin Gameiro cut the ball back for Jeremy Menez who tucked home for a 2-1 lead in the 55th. Nene made it 3-1 with another penalty in the 76th following a foul by Nicolas Seube on Gameiro.

Jerry Vandam cut PSG’s lead to 3-2 by heading in a corner in the 82nd before Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore sealed the win with a diagonal shot in the 88th.

Montpellier kept pace with the leader by beating Nancy 2-0 with second-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Souleymane Camara.

Also Saturday, it was: Brest 3, Lorient 1; Evian 3, Auxerre 1; Dijon 2, Marseille 3; Ajaccio 0, Bordeaux 2.

Lyon played Saint-Etienne late on Saturday.

In Montpellier, Giroud notched his eighth goal this season from a tight angle to put the hosts ahead in the 61st. Camara converted a cross from Benjamin Stambouli to add a second goal in the 74th.

In Brest, Guinea striker Larsen Toure headed home a cross from Eden Ben Basat in the 4th.

Brest midfielder Bruno Grougi played a one-two with Mario Licka before firing home a low drive from the edge of the box in the 35th. Grougi then converted a spot kick to make it 3-0 in the 43rd following a foul on Nolan Roux.

Lorient defender Bruno Ecuele Manga scored a consolation goal in the 54th from close range.

In Evian, Yannick Sagbo opened the scoring for the hosts in the 15th with an assist from Cedric Barbosa. Sagbo was again set up by Barbosa to find the net in the 42nd. Barbosa then beat goalkeeper Olivier Sorin in the 69th for a 3-0 lead.

Poland international Dariusz Dudka scored Auxerre’s lone goal in the 71st with a penalty.

In Dijon, the hosts rallied from a two-goal deficit but could not prevent Marseille substitute Alou Diarra from scoring the winner by heading home a free kick from Mathieu Valbuena in the 82nd.

Marseille midfielder Charles Kabore fed Loic Remy who slipped the ball past goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet in the opening minute. Benoit Cheyrou curled home a free kick to make it 2-0 in the 11th.

Dijon came back with a spectacular volley from striker Brice Jovial in the 46th and a header from Benjamin Corgnet in the 63rd.

In Ajaccio, forward Yoan Gouffran gave Bordeaux the victory by sliding in a pass from Nicolas Maurice-Belay in the 25th and volleying home in the 29th.

On Sunday, defending champion Lille travels to Valenciennes, Toulouse hosts Rennes and Nice faces Sochaux.