A 94th-minute equaliser by Guillaume Hoarau gave Paris Saint-Germain a stunning 4-4 draw against Lyon in an incredible soccer match at Stade Gerland on Saturday night.
After falling behind in the first half, Lyon rallied to lead 3-1 and then 4-2, only for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to roar back and prevent themselves sliding to a fourth defeat of the season.
PSG nonetheless slipped to second place in Ligue 1, after Montpellier went top with victory over Bordeaux earlier in the day.
Hoarau’s last-gasp goal was a sucker-punch for Remi Garde’s Lyon, who now lie five points behind third-placed Lille – having played a game more – in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Following early tests for both goalkeepers, Hoarau swept PSG into the lead from just inside the Lyon area in the 21st minute after Jeremy Menez picked him out unmarked from a free-kick.
After Hoarau shot wide from Nene’s cross and Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to beat away a fierce free-kick from Alex, Lyon responded with a sensational three-goal salvo that turned the game in their favour in the space of just six minutes.
Bafetimbi Gomis equalised with a crashing back-post volley in the 34th minute, before Lisandro Lopez met Michel Bastos’ right-wing cross with a magnificently accomplished half-volley to put the hosts ahead.
Bastos scored an even better goal four minutes later, lashing a sublime effort into the top-left corner from the edge of the area, only for Nene to reply with a penalty in first-half injury time after he was fouled by Maxime Gonalons.
PSG emerged for the second half with renewed purpose but Jimmy Briand restored OL’s two-goal advantage just before the hour when he climbed highest at the near post to glance home Bastos’ left-wing corner.
Marcos Ceara clipped OL’s lead with a deflected drive shortly after coming on but Lloris appeared to have kept PSG at bay until Hoarau headed home Mathieu Bodmer’s lobbed pass late in added time to set the seal on an unforgettable encounter.
Having held Paris to a 2-2 draw at Parc des Princes last weekend, Montpellier are now looking down on their title rivals after edging in-form Bordeaux 1-0 at Stade de la Mosson.
John Utaka headed home the winning goal from Marco Estrada’s 80th-minute corner, consigning Bordeaux to their first league defeat this year.
“We secured a great victory that I’m going to savour,” said Montpellier coach Rene Girard.
“I’m proud of my boys. This season, we’re capable of believing right until the end.”
Saint-Etienne remained in fourth place after spurning the opportunity to draw level on points with third-placed Lille in a 0-0 draw at struggling Auxerre.
