PSG drops to second after grueling draw

PSG drops to second after grueling draw

Published Feb. 25, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

Guillaume Hoarau's last-gasp header earned Paris St Germain a dramatic 4-4 draw against Ligue 1 rivals Lyon at the Stade Gerland.

Lyon had twice held two-goal leads in the match after a brilliant first half which saw them recover from Hoarau's opener with goals by Bafetimbi Gomis, Lisandro Lopez and Michel Bastos.

Nene's penalty saw PSG pull one back but Jimmy Briand restored Lyon's two-goal advantage. However, Ceara narrowed the gap once more and, with full-time fast approaching, Gameiro timed it to perfection to score a dramatic equaliser. The draw saw PSG overtaken by Montpellier at the Ligue 1 summit but Carlo Ancelotti's side were nevertheless jubilant at the final whistle.

PSG started the brighter and after a slow opening quarter of an hour, Javier Pastore's volley forced a good punch by Hugo Lloris in the Lyon goal.

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In the 20th minute the deadlock was broken and Hoarau was the goalscorer. Jeremy Menez took on two defenders and sent in a low cross which Hoarau, timing his run perfectly, got on the end of to fire in right-footed at the near post.

Gomis forced a save from Salvatore Sirigu at the other end while Nene played in Alex at the other but the defender's shot was saved by Lloris.

Lyon kept plugging away and were repaid for their efforts. Briand took on Alex and forced Sirigu into a good save but in the 34th minute they were level.

Kim Kallstrom got hold of the loose ball and floated it to the far post, where Gomis volleyed nicely to leave Sirigu beaten.

A minute later and they were ahead through Gomis' strike partner. Briand countered after a PSG corner, beat Maxwell and crossed to the far post where Lisandro volleyed home with the left foot.

It was 3-1 five minutes before the break and it was a third goalscorer for Lyon. Kallstrom's corner was cleared by Thiago Motta but only as far as Bastos, who smashed a screaming left-footed volley.

Two minutes into first-half added time, though, it was 3-2. Nene was the goalscorer, deceiving Lloris from the penalty spot, after Maxime Gonalons had fouled him in the edge of the box.

PSG had chances in the second half through Nene before Briand's shot was blocked at the other end.

But Lyon made it 4-2 as Briand met Bastos' corner with a clever header which left Sirigu stranded. Briand threatened with a volley before PSG pulled another back in the 72nd minute through Ceara.

Nene flicked to Hoarau, who played in Ceara and his low drive took a deflection to beat Lloris.

Lloris denied Nene and then Motta as PSG looked set to be frustrated.

But three minutes into added time, PSG snatched the draw.

Ceara took a free-kick from the left and the visitors, attacking en masse with even Sirigu forward, took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to stand the ball up for Gameiro to net.

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