Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) vies with Ajaccio’s Franco Senegalese midfielder Ricardo Faty during the French L1 match against Ajaccio in Ajaccio yesterday. (AFP)

 

AFP/Paris

Paris Saint-Germain were not at their very best in their first Ligue 1 game of 2014, but they still managed to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points after coming from behind to beat
Ajaccio 2-1.

Bottom club Ajaccio had taken the lead at the Stade Francois-Coty through an early Eduardo goal, but Ezequiel Lavezzi pulled the visitors level before the break and Blaise Matuidi headed in what proved to be the winner after 74 minutes.

It was not a classic performance from Laurent Blanc’s side, but they are now five points clear at the top of the table from Monaco, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Montpellier on Friday.

Ajaccio, meanwhile, remain rooted to the foot of the table with just one win to their name all season. They have a meagre nine points to their name and are nine points adrift of safety, meaning that avoiding relegation already looks to be beyond them.

The Corsicans had developed a reputation as something of a bete noire for PSG in recent times, however, drawing on each of their previous three meetings with the club from the capital.

And they took a shock lead after just six minutes at the Stade Francois-Coty, when Mehdi Mostefa’s low ball from the right was helped on by Benjamin Andre and Eduardo appeared to convert at the back post.

They could even have increased their lead soon after when Eduardo crossed and Paul Lasne headed the ball down for captain Johan Cavalli to volley just wide.

However, PSG slowly found their feet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired a low free-kick off the base of the post before Edinson Cavani turned and shot narrowly off target.

The equalising goal eventually arrived four minutes before the break, Lavezzi slotting home his third league goal of the campaign from an Ibrahimovic assist at the end of a fine move involving Cavani and Matuidi.

Ajaccio remained very much in the game and Eduardo had an effort well saved by visiting ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu midway through the second period, but PSG finally got their noses in front with just over a quarter of an hour remaining.

Substitute Javier Pastore crossed for Ibrahimovic, and the Swede nodded the ball down for Matuidi to score with a diving header from point-blank range.

Ajaccio still could have come away with something from the game had Lasne not missed the target with a header from Eduardo’s cross, while Cavani almost made it 3-1 with a late effort, only for Guillermo Ochoa to make a fine save.

Lille can close the gap at the top back down to four points if they beat Reims at home.