PSG ride luck to return to summit

PARIS (AFP) –

Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu celebrates after winning the French L1 football match between Paris Saint Germain vs Lille on January 27, 2013 at the Parc-des-Princes stadium in Paris. Paris Saint Germain rode their luck to wrest back top spot in the French league from Lyon on Sunday – an own goal from Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou enough to land three points.

Paris Saint Germain rode their luck to wrest back top spot in the French league from Lyon on Sunday – an own goal from Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou enough to land three points against Lille at Parc des Princes.

Chedjou was the villain of the piece for the visitors, who might easily have taken a point had he not deflected home a loose ball after Lille keeper Steeve Elana parried a cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi midway through the second half.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men could have had more goals as Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the post with a sweetly-struck effort while another effort from the same player stretched Elana.

But Lille also had cause to feel hard done before the break as Ronny Rodelin appeared to have opened the scoring from a corner kick – only for colleague Nolan Roux to be given offside.

Television replays suggested the referee’s call was harsh as PSG survived to stand clear of Lyon on goal difference with both clubs on 45 points from 22 games, three ahead of Marseille, held 2-2 on Saturday by Rennes.

Bastia’s Brazilian forward Araujo Ilan (foreground) vies with Saint-Etienne’s French midfielder Jeremy Clement during the French L1 football match AS Saint-Etienne (ASSE) vs Bastia (SCB) on January 27, 2013, at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France. Saint Etienne won 3-0.

After Tulio de Melo had hit the woodwork in another scare for the home fans PSG held out, which was a boon for Italian keeper Salvatore Sirigu, who during the game set a club-record of minutes without conceding a Ligue 1 goal.

After the opening 12 minutes, Sirigu passed the mark of 697 minutes set by former France international shot-stopper Bernard Lama back in 1996 and his clean sheet stretched the record by another 78 minutes.

Sirigu last conceded a goal in the 35th minute of a November 17 loss to Rennes and he has since kept his net clean seven times.

The overall French record belongs to former Bordeaux keeper Gaetan Huard, who in 1993 was unbeaten for 1176 minutes – more than 13 matches.

“It was tough right to the final whistle,” said Sirigu.

“We got a lucky goal then defended well,” he told Canal Plus television.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said PSG gave away far too much possession.

“We didn’t have things well under control. We were lucky, that’s a fact. But there were many other times when we didn’t have that luck. I am happy as you can’t always turn in a fantastic showing but you must be solid and the main thing is to win.”

Elsewhere, Bordeaux scored a 1-0 win at Nice to overhaul their hosts in taking fifth spot with Henri Saivet on target.

Earlier Sunday, former French giants Saint Etienne kept their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season alive with an easy 3-0 win over Bastia.

After losing ground in December when they hit something of a goal drought, Saint Etienne got their season back on track by taking an early lead through Brazilian Brandao after just nine minutes.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and substitute Josuah Guilavogui rounded things off to leave Les Verts seventh, a point behind Bordeaux and Nice.

On Friday, Lyon shrugged off a constant stream of transfer speculation surrounding key players and a difficult start to the New Year on the pitch by going to Valenciennes and winning 2-0 courtesy of goals by Gueida Fofana and Bafetimbi Gomis.

Marseille were then frustrated Saturday by Rennes in an entertaining contest.

OM led at the interval thanks to a strike from Ghana star Andre Ayew.

However, they were pegged back just before the hour mark when defender Kevin Theophile-Catherine powerfully headed home a right-wing corner.

Ayew’s brother Jordan put Marseille back in front with just seven minutes remaining after Morgan Amalfitano sent in a tantalising cross but in the 88th minute, Rennes rescued the point they deserved through Romain Alessandrini’s header which left his side fourth.