‘Ibra’ scores twice as PSG beat Bastia 4-0
PARIS, France (AP) — Zlatan ‘Ibra’ Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani scored spectacular goals as unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bastia 4-0 to provisionally move ahead of Monaco at the top of the French league yesterday.
Ibrahimovic has some logic-defying goals during his illustrious career and added another to his collection.
Winger Lucas’ cross from the right inadvertently struck Hervin Ongenda and the ball looped up and behind Ibrahimovic, who showed amazing flexibility to volley it over his shoulder with the back of his heel.
Moments later, he made it 2-0 after 15 minutes when Lucas’ cross went in off his shoulder.
Cavani replaced Ibrahimovic at half-time and dribbled past three players down the left before slotting in from a tight angle. He added a late penalty for 4-0.
Monaco, the only other unbeaten side, can retain top spot on goal difference if they win by three goals at lowly Sochaux today. Lille remained in third place, four points behind PSG after winning 1-0 at Montpellier, thanks to an early goal from defender Pape Souare.
Cavani has six league goals so far, one more than Ibrahimovic, although they rarely combine.
Bastia is strong at home but inconsistent away from home and had not won in its previous 25 visits to Paris.
It was soon obvious that bad run was never going to end when Ibrahimovic, who has a black belt in taekwondo, put PSG ahead in the 10th.
If only for one half, Cavani got a chance to play in his favoured centre forward role, rather than wide right when he’s picked with Ibrahimovic in a 4-3-3 formation.
In other matches, Ajaccio 0, Nantes 1; Evian 1, Guingamp 2, and Rennes 2, Valenciennes 2.
In today’s games, Saint-Etienne face Lorient and struggling Lyon take on Bordeaux.