Cavani on Target as PSG Edge Lorient: Winners and Losers from Ligue 1 Game

Paris Saint-Germain launched a second-half fightback to claim three hard-earned points with a 2-1 win at FC Lorient’s Stade du Moustoir in Ligue 1 on Saturday. Despite Raphael Guerreiro’s opening goal on the stroke of half time, the French champions eventually triumphed thanks to Edinson Cavani and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck’s second half efforts.

Although the Uruguayan’s was a scrappy finish, the Frenchman’s winner was worthy of deciding the game. Les Merlus will feel hard done by after they fought to pull off a shock victory, but ultimately they did not have enough quality.

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2012 - Paris SG have won a Ligue 1 game after trailing at half-time for the first time since May 2012… in Lorient. Habit.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 1, 2014"

The result moves PSG one point behind Ligue 1 leaders Olympique de Marseille ahead of their clash with RC Lens at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday. But more importantly, dropped points for OM would mean that Les Parisiens go into next week’s showdown in Paris with the chance to leapfrog Les Phoceens and go top.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc was satisfied with the result when he spoke with the press after the match (h/t Ligue1.com, but stressed his disappointment at the first half performance.

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It was a hard earned victory. I sincerely believe that we were incredibly weak in the first half tonight," he said. "That can happen, but when you are Paris Saint-Germain it is very difficult to accept. Lorient caused us a lot of problems, but it was in large part down to our own technical errors which were, in the first half, incredible.

In that domain, individually, it was one of the worst halves of football that I have seen as coach. The second half was much better. I think the team played to their true level and in 45 minutes managed to turn things around. If we hadn't raised our game in the second half, we would not have won the match.

We came to get three points and we got them. We have 24 points from 12 matches, which is two per game, and we are starting to get back to the level we showed last year.

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Here are some winners and losers from PSG’s 2-1 win over FC Lorient in Brittany.

Winner: PSG’s Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, Who Came off the Bench to Score Winner

David Vincent/Associated Press

After the frustration of seeing his opportunity to impress in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cavani against Girondins de Bordeaux cut short last week, Bahebeck deserved another chance. Although he was only given 29 minutes to make his presence felt at Stade du Moustoir, the hungry Frenchman took the opportunity with both hands.

Bahebeck scored with one of his first touches of the ball, finishing from the tightest of angles after a sumptuous assist from Marco Verratti. The 21-year-old now has two goals and two assists from eight appearances, even though only two of those have been starts.

Bahebeck deserves to keep receiving chances if he can maintain this current level of form. Although there were a number of worthy winners in the PSG side, such as the impeccable Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti, it was the capital club’s No. 15 who won them the match.

Winner: Jordan Ayew, Who Shone for Lorient

David Vincent/Associated Press

While Lorient goalscorer Guerreiro and the impressive Valentin Lavigne could also have been considered winners, Jordan Ayew arguably deserves the biggest mention for Les Merlus. The 23-year-old created Guerreiro’s superb goal and looked the hosts’ main threat going forward along with Lavigne.

Ayew has not lived up to expectations so far following his summer move, but his performance against the likes of PSG captain Thiago Silva and Marquinhos will give him confidence. The Ghanaian international will be key for Lorient as they look to move away from the relegation zone in the coming weeks.

Loser: PSG’s Yohan Cabaye, Who Endured a Torrid Afternoon

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

The biggest loser on the day was PSG’s Yohan Cabaye, who was once again a passenger in Blanc’s midfield unit.

The France international has not lived up to expectations since arriving at the Parc des Princes back in January, and following the news that teenage sensation Adrien Rabiot has renewed his contract until 2019, the 28-year-old could be living on borrowed time in the capital.

Cabaye was sloppy in possession, presented Lorient with a number of good opportunities and gave away needless fouls. The PSG No. 4 played like a man under pressure, and this inept performance puts his place in Didier Deschamps’ France squad under further scrutiny.

Loser: Sylvain Ripoll, Who Saw His Lorient Side Run out of Steam

David Vincent/Associated Press

For 60 minutes, it was all going so well for Lorient and their coach Sylvain Ripoll. Les Merlus were frustrating their illustrious visitors and looked capable of scoring another goal when going forward.

Benjamin Lecomte, who was outstanding for most of the match, was unlucky to concede such a soft equalising goal and could do little to stop Bahebeck’s precise finish for the second.

Unfortunately for Ripoll, his determined side just ran out of momentum after chances to score the second passed late in the first half and early in the second. Had they played this well against the sides around them, they would be winning more matches.

That is exactly what Lorient need to do now if they are to move away from the wrong end of the Ligue 1 table.