Nene's brace enough for victorious PSG

LIGUE 1 FIXTURES

 

Saturday, March 3
Dijon	1-1	Montpellier	Recap
Lille	2-2	Auxerre	Recap
Marseille	0-1	Toulouse	Recap
Nancy	2-0	Lyon	Recap
Sochaux	0-2	USVA	Recap
St. Etienne	1-1	Evian	Recap
Bordeaux	1-2	Nice	Recap
Sunday, March 4
Caen	0-0	Brest	Recap
PSG	4-1	AC Ajaccio	Recap
Lorient	0-2	Rennes	Recap
More: Ligue 1| Standings|Stats

Paris St Germain maintained their three-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and their 100 per cent record under Carlo Ancelotti - but were made to work hard by Evian for the second time this season before winning 3-1.

The capital club fought back from 2-0 down to claim a point in the reverse fixture in September and again fell behind to a Cedric Cambon goal on the stroke of half-time.

But PSG stormed back in the second period as Nene scored twice, the second from the penalty spot, and Kevin Gameiro wrapped up the victory two minutes from the end of time.

Evian threatened first in the 12th minute when Mohamed Rabiu fired over from 20 yards from Christian Poulsen's cross.

Gameiro went close with a curling effort for PSG six minutes later and in the 33rd minute Jeremy Menez hit the post for the hosts after he was freed by Nene and rounded Evian goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.

The Dane then blocked a Nene effort as Menez turned provider but as the half was set to end Evian took the lead when a half-cleared corner was volleyed back goalwards by Olivier Sorlin and Cambon got a vital headed touch.

PSG levelled in the first minute of the second half as Nene scored a fine equaliser and Andersen had to be alert in the 48th minute to keep out a shot from Gameiro.

Evian almost regained their lead 10 minutes later when Sidney Govou broke clear but PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu was able to block with his feet.

Nene then demonstrated his worth at the defensive end with a headed goalline clearance to deny Poulsen, whose 69th-minute header from a Daniel Wass corner had the beating of Sirigu.

Wass quickly drew Sirigu into action again before PSG took the lead with 13 minutes to go.

Guillaume Rippert tripped Menez in the box and Nene's powerful penalty was too good for Andersen.

The win was secured when Blaise Matuidi won possession and freed Nene, his shot was parried by Andersen but only as far as Gameiro, who applied the close-range finish.