Giroud brace earns Lille win over Paris FC in Ligue 1

Veteran forward Olivier Giroud scored two goals as Lille triumphed 4-2 at home against Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The 39-year-old found the net in both halves after Willem Geubbels had initially put the visitors ahead.

Aissa Mandi added a third goal, and Lohann Doucet provided Paris FC with a glimmer of hope late in the game, until Marius Broholm’s penalty secured Lille’s position in the top four with 23 points.

The away team took the lead in the 11th minute when Geubbels joyfully tapped the ball into an empty net after Vincent Marchetti’s powerful shot rebounded off the crossbar and fell favorably to the striker.

Giroud equalized for the home side in the 40th minute, finishing Romain Perraud’s assist with precision.

This marked the 2018 World Cup winner’s first league goal for Lille since he scored in their opening two matches in August.

“For some time now, it’s been a recurring topic: when is he going to score?” Lille coach Bruno Genesio remarked. “I’m happy for him.”

Lille controlled the second half but struggled to find a breakthrough until the last fifteen minutes.

Substitute Hakon Haraldsson was fouled from behind while attempting to reach a low cross into the box, and Giroud confidently converted the penalty with 13 minutes left on the clock.

Mandi extended Lille’s lead by heading in a corner at the back post in the 80th minute.

Paris FC clawed back into the match when Doucet scored from close range shortly thereafter.

However, following some frantic defensive efforts and Broholm’s penalty in the 96th minute, Genesio’s team managed to secure a hard-earned victory.

– ‘We missed out’ –
Lyon were held to a goalless draw at bottom-placed Auxerre, ending the hosts’ four-game losing streak in the league.
Lyon now have 21 points but have fallen further behind Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in the title race.

However, the situation could have been more dire for the seven-time Ligue 1 champions had goalkeeper Dominik Greif not successfully saved a penalty taken by Lassine Sinayoko in the first half.

"We must improve. We let three points slip away at a crucial moment in the championship," stated Lyon's assistant coach Jorge Maciel.

"Ambition is not merely a topic of conversation; it is demonstrated through performance on the field."

Auxerre remains three points adrift of safety following a 1-1 draw between fellow relegation rivals Lorient and Nantes.

Nantes' center-back Chidozie Awaziem secured a point for the home team in the 91st minute after his own goal during first-half injury time had seemingly given Lorient a crucial three points.

Metz, also with 11 points but possessing a poorer goal difference, has taken Lorient's place in the relegation zone after suffering a last-minute 3-2 defeat against Brest.

Romain Del Castillo's penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time resulted in Stephane Le Mignan's team facing their eighth loss of the season.

Brest, who participated in Champions League football last season, has risen to 14th place with 13 points.

Angers triumphed over Toulouse with a score of 1-0, courtesy of an early goal from Yassin Belkhdim, as they joined their opponents in mid-table with 16 points.