PSG strike late for win

Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain needed two stoppage-time goals to claim a 2-0 win over Guingamp.

Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain needed two stoppage-time goals to claim a 2-0 win over Guingamp at the Parc des Princes. PSG manager Laurent Blanc's position has already come under scrutiny after the Parisiens stuttering start to the season in which they have already dropped four points in their effort to retain their league title. It could have been a lot worse but for strikes from Adrien Rabiot and Zlatan Ibrahimovic late on against recently-promoted Guingamp. Having drawn with Montpellier and Ajaccio, the hosts could ill-afford to fall further behind leaders Marseille, who host fellow title-contenders Monaco on Sunday evening. Blanc's men almost made the perfect start just a few minutes in when Ibrahimovic struck the post direct from a free-kick with Guingamp goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa soundly beaten. Les Parisiens dominated the opening stages with Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi both looking dangerous in the final third but Guingamp almost took the lead after 20 minutes against the run of play. Thiago Silva managed to block Fatih Atik's cross but the ball fell at the feet of Moustapha Diallo, who saw his deflected effort saved by Salvatore Sirigu in the PSG goal. With half-time approaching the hosts twice went close in quick succession. Firstly, Edinson Cavani's near-post header needed a two-handed save from Samassa to prevent a certain goal before Thiago Silva found the crossbar with a header from Lavezzi's delivery. Guingamp continued to frustrate their hosts in the second half as PSG looked for the decisive opening goal. Samassa was called into action again and proved to be a tough opponent to beat as he pushed away Cavani's header after Thiago Motta had picked the Uruguayan out. With 15 minutes left Sirigu was called upon again to keep out a Moustapha Yatabare strike and the Italian keeper's efforts paid off deep into stoppage time. Firstly, Rabiot pounced after Samassa had saved Brazilian defender Alex's header and the substitute kneed the ball over the line to send the Parc des Princes crowd wild. With celebrations still in full swing, Ibrahimovic doubled the hosts' lead with his first league goal of the season. The Swede latched onto Gregory van der Wiel's long ball and eventually poked the ball home just before the final whistle.