Rabiot saves PSG blushes, Lyon misery continues

Teenager Adrien Rabiot came off the bench to spur French title-holders Paris Saint-Germain past promoted Guingamp 2-0 on Saturday, as the midfielder netted a decisive injury-time goal at the Parc des Princes. PSG's stuttering start to the season appeared set to continue as the woodwork twice denied Laurent Blanc's side, but 18-year-old Rabiot struck a minute into stoppage time before Zlatan Ibrahimovic made the points safe. The win takes PSG to within a point of leaders Marseille, who host Monaco on Sunday. Last year's top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, without a goal in his opening three matches, almost opened his account for the season inside two minutes as he struck the base of Mamadou Samassa's post from a free-kick. Edinson Cavani then saw a glancing header at the near post turned over by Samassa before the frame of the goal again came to Guingamp's rescue as Thiago Silva headed the ensuing corner against the crossbar. The visitors rarely troubled PSG bar for a deflected Moustapha Diallo effort that drew a routine save out of Salvatore Sirigu, but Guingamp goalkeeper Samassa grew increasingly busier as PSG pressed to break the deadlock. The Mali international turned away another Cavani header after the interval before holding a low strike from Ezequiel Lavezzi, with Ibrahimovic then shooting wide after combining well with Cavani. However, Mustapha Yatabare almost stunned the home fans as Guingamp countered against the run of play with PSG indebted to Sirigu, the Italian expertly saving with the striker through on goal. The visitors seemed set to come away with a commendable point, but they cracked a minute into stoppage time as Samassa could only claw Alex's header into the path of Rabiot, who stabbed home from close range for his first PSG goal. Ibrahimovic added gloss to the score as he outmuscled Jeremy Sorbon to reach a hopeful ball forward before eluding Samassa and steering into an empty net. Earlier, Lyon's disastrous week was made even worse as Remi Garde's side followed up their midweek Champions League exit by crashing to a 2-1 defeat away to Evian. Kevin Berigaud struck two first-half goals at the Parc des Sports in Annecy as Lyon slumped to a fourth straight defeat in all competitions. Consigned to the Europa League following Wednesday's Champions League second-leg play-off round defeat to Real Sociedad, Lyon were made to suffer further as Berigaud latched onto Cedric Barbosa's through ball to put Evian ahead on eight minutes. Berigaud then added to his haul just after the half-hour as he exchanged passes with Danish winger Daniel Wass before slipping the ball under goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. Lyon, who were already without the injured Clement Grenier and exiled attacking duo Jimmy Briand and Bafetimbi Gomis, were then dealt a further blow as midfielder Yoann Gourcuff limped off just before half-time with a thigh problem. The visitors did manage to pull a goal back through Jordan Ferri's superb long-range strike early in the second half, but that would prove the lone bright spot for Lyon as Evian secured a deserved first win of the season to move off the foot of the Ligue 1 table. "We were not good, we had a really poor first half. We didn't take on board what the coach said and we paid dearly," bemoaned Lyon defender Bakary Kone, who went on to downplay any concerns about a crisis at the seven-time French champions. "There is no crisis as we're only four weeks into the season. We have two wins and two defeats in the league. We have to work to get back on the right track." Source: AFP