Lucas lifts ten-man PSG to season-opening win
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| AFP |
An inspired second half goal from Brazilian winger Lucas Moura got ten-man Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 title defence off to a 1-0 winning start at Lille.
The three-time Ligue 1 champions were a player down after half an hour after midfielder Adrien Rabiot was given his marching orders for two yellow cards.
Rabiot picked up the first on 22 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Lille midfielder Florent Balmont, and six minutes later was sent off for a foul on defender Sebastian Corchia.
In the sole Ligue 1 game on Friday night, the Parisians had been struggling to contain Lille who finished eighth last season and were playing their first competitive match under new coach Herve Renard.
But 20-year-old Rabiot's misfortune spurred Laurent Blanc's side into action. Lille's Eric Bautheac stepped up but failed to convert the resulting free-kick which David Luiz and PSG's new goalkeeper Kevin Trapp managed to contain.
Lucas finally got the breakthrough after 57 minutes to give PSG their first away win in a season opener in 19 years. The remainder of the Ligue 1 matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday.