PSG back on track, Depay dazzles in Lyon’s big win

Paris, March 13: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) bounced back from midweek’s humiliating loss to Barcelo in the Champions League to win 2-1 over bottom side Lorient, while forward Memphis Depay enjoyed an excellent lob near halfway line in Lyon’s 4-0 crushing of Toulouse in the 29th round of Ligue 1 football championship.

Lorient, who sat at the bottom with only 22 points after 28 rounds, became the ideal opponents for the defending champions PSG to regain their confidence on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

PSG took the lead in the 28th minute through Benjamin Jeannot’s own goal, before they doubled the lead seven minutes after the interval as Christopher Nkunku beat the goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.

However, PSG failed to finish a clean-sheet game due to their leaky defence, and Michael Ciani jumped higher than PSG centre-back Marquinhos for a header in the 68th minute. With a nervy victory, PSG returned to the second position, three points adrift from leaders Moco. And Nice, who recorded a draw on Friday, ranked third to trail PSG by two points.

Depay, who struggled for playing time in Manchester United, joined Lyon in January with a reported fee of around $18 million. The Dutchman had every reason to feel comfortable with a brace against Toulouse.

Christophe Jallet and Maxwel Cornet awarded a two-goal lead for Lyon. After scoring his first goal in the 53rd minute, Depay had his moments with eight minutes remaining and pleased the home crowds with his skillful shot. As he collected the ball near the halfway line, beat a defender, and finished a lob over goalkeeper Alban Lafont to bounce into the net, bringing his tally to four goals in last three games. Depay’s feat reminded many people of David Beckham’s similar goal in 1996 against Wimbledon early in his Manchester United career.

In Sunday’s another match, Saint-Etienne had to rely on captain Loic Perrin’s late goal in stoppage time to tie at 2-2 with Metz. IANS