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AC Ajaccio
Ligue 1
Jan 11, 2014 at 4pm UK
 
PSG logo

1-2

FT(HT: 1-1)
Lavezzi (41'), Matuidi (74')

Blaise Matuidi helps Paris Saint-Germain snatch win

Blaise Matuidi scores late to give Paris Saint-Germain a nervy win over Ajaccio in Ligue 1.

A late goal by Blaise Matuidi helped spare Paris Saint-Germain's blushes as they fought from behind to beat lowly Ajaccio and preserve their lead at the top of Ligue 1.

PSG had started brightly when Adrien Rabiot almost scored from a third-minute corner, but soon after they fell behind against the Corsican outfit.

On six minutes Benjamin Andre found Eduardo Dos Santos, who beat Salvatore Sirigu from close range to give the league's bottom side a great start.

Ajaccio's French forward Edouardo Ribeiro Dos Santos (L) scores a goal during the French L1 football match Ajaccio (ACA) against Paris (PSG) on January 11, 2014© Getty Images

But with Ajaccio having only scored 13 goals in their 19 games prior to this contest, it became a tough task to hold on to their advantage.

They could have been pegged back on the half-hour mark when Zlatan Ibrahimovic's free kick came back off the post with Guillermo Ochoa beaten.

Laurent Blanc's charges enjoyed far more possession and greater opportunities, but should have been on level terms when Edinson Cavani twice went close in quick succession with the half coming to a close.

It was left to fellow former Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi to level things up when Ibrahimovic's cross was tucked in by the Argentine from close range.

Paris Saint-Germain's Italian midfielder Thiago Motta celebrates with French midfielder Blaise Matuidi after scoring a goal during the French Cup football match between Brest and PSG at the Francis Le Ble stadium in Brest, western France, on January 8, 20© Getty Images

Les Parisiens continued to dominate proceedings after the break and Lavezzi ought to have put the leaders ahead when he got on to the end of Maxwell's cross and somehow put his effort wide when it looked easier to score.

Ajaccio had rare moments of their own in attack and Dos Santos latched onto Johan Cavalli's pass, but the forward couldn't trouble Sirigu.

PSG did find a second goal with 16 minutes left when Ibrahimovic again turned provider for Matuidi and the French international made no mistake in finding Ochoa's bottom right corner.

The result means the team from the capital stay five points clear of AS Monaco at the top.

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Paris Saint-Germain's Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fifth goal during the French League Cup football match against Brest on January 8, 2014
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Auxerre341810663342964
2Saint-EtienneSt Etienne351961044261863
3Angers351871052401261
4Rodez AFRodez AF351511958471156
5Paris FCParis FC351510104638855
6Laval351410113842-452
7PauPau351312105650651
8Caen35156144543251
9GuingampGuingamp351311114135650
10AmiensAmiens35101693134-346
11Bastia35138144044-446
12Ajaccio351210133438-446
13Grenoble351112123839-145
14Bordeaux35129144146-544
15Annecy35119154446-242
16DunkerqueDunkerque34118153146-1541
17Troyes35813143947-837
18Quevilly35617124750-335
19Concarneau3598183349-1635
20Valenciennes35411202350-2723


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