Paris Saint-Germain’s Guillaume Hoarau scored a last-gasp equalizer in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday, although they still surrendered top spot in Ligue 1 to Montpellier Herault.
PSG, unbeaten in all competitions since Carlo Ancelotti took over as manager from Antoine Kombouare two months ago, recovered from two goals down as Montpellier, who beat Girondins de Bordeaux 1-0, moved a point clear with 53 points from 25 games.
“We have mixed feelings, because we cannot concede goals like that,” striker Hoarau told French TV channel Orange Foot.
PSG went ahead after 21 minutes when Hoarau slotted the ball past France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from a Jeremy Menez free-kick, but Lyon, who are fifth on 40 points, stormed back.
Bafetimbi Gomis volleyed home from close range in the 34th minute and Lisandro Lopez doubled their tally when he latched onto a Michel Bastos cross two minutes later.
Brazil winger Bastos then fired a lone-range half-volley into the top corner to make it 3-1 five minutes before the break as Italian Ancelotti sat down on the bench with a vacant stare.
However, Nene pulled one back for the visitors with a penalty three minutes into first-half stoppage-time.
Lyon made a tame start to the second half, before Jimmy Briand headed home from a Bastos free-kick in the 57th minute to restore their two-goal advantage.
The visitors did not give up, though, and defender Marcos Ceara, who had just replaced Christophe Jallet, reduced the arrears on 73 minutes with a cross-shot.
Lloris then pulled off a couple of fine saves to deny Nene and Thiago Motta from close range, but four minutes into stoppage-time Hoarau headed in a Mathieu Bodmer cross to clinch a point.
Montpellier’s match was not as spectacular, but Utaka’s 80th-minute header from a Marco Estrada corner saw off Bordeaux.
Bordeaux, who were unbeaten in Ligue 1 this year, came close in the first half when Poland international forward Ludovic Obraniak curled a shot against the post just before the break.
AS Saint-Etienne stayed fourth on 43 points following a 0-0 draw at AJ Auxerre, who slipped a place to second bottom, as OGC Nice moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 home win over Stade Malherbe Caen.
Also on Saturday, AC Ajaccio defeated Dijon FCO 2-1, Evian Thonon Gaillard beat AS Nancy-Lorraine 2-0 and Valenciennes downed Lorient 2-0.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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