Paris Saint Germain 2 - 1 Lille OSC: Lucas Moura snatches late win for Paris St Germain against Lille
Posted Wednesday, February 08, 2017 by PA
Lucas Moura came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner as Paris St Germain beat Lille 2-1 at Parc des Princes to keep the pressure on at the top of Ligue 1.
A looping header from Edinson Cavani with 20 minutes left looked to have set PSG up for victory, keeping them within striking distance of leaders Monaco, who had earlier won at Montpellier.
However, Lille threatened to leave the capital with a share of the points after Nicolas de Preville equalised following a mistake by goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Brazilian Moura, though, snatched victory when he scored from close range after a scramble in the Lille penalty area.
PSG made a promising start as Serge Aurier guided the ball just wide after a free-kick.
The Ivory Coast defender went close again on 10 minutes as his effort from the right flew over the crossbar.
The home side continued to press for the opening goal as a long-range effort from Angel Di Maria forced Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama into a diving save.
Enyeama was called into action again on 16 minutes as he pushed over a close-range header from Cavani, but the offside flag was already up before Hatem Ben Arfa fired wide.
After soaking up so much pressure, Lille suddenly produced a threat at the other end as PSG goalkeeper Areola was forced to make a reaction save from a header by defender Franck Beria.
PSG resumed where they had left off at the start of the second half, with Ben Arfa's long-range effort saved by Enyeama.
As the hour mark approached, Maxwell whipped a cross into the Lille penalty area, which the busy Enyeama collected as Cavani was ready to pounce.
PSG coach Unai Emery made a change as Adrien Rabiot came on for Ben Arfa in an attempt to inject some fresh impetus into his team.
Di Maria's close-range effort flashed by the near post as the home side upped the tempo, with German Julian Draxler, a January signing, replaced by Moura.
The Brazilian frontman almost made an instant impact when his shot was cleared off the line.
PSG finally made the breakthrough with 20 minutes left when Cavani's header looped in after the ball was deflected through a crowded penalty area following a deep free-kick out on the left.
Lille, though, looked to have earned themselves a point in the 86th minute when De Preville slotted in from 20 yards after Areola had lost possession when trying to dribble clear.
Areola's blushes were spared, however, in stoppage time when Moura smashed the ball in from close range following a scramble in the Lille six-yard box after Enyeama had made a superb point-blank save.
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