PSG Seize The Top After Losing Metz

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JAKARTA - Paris Saint-Germain won the top of the French League standings after beating host Metz by a score of 3-1 in Week 34 at the Saint-Symphorien Stadium.

Kylian Mbappe's brace and a Mauro Icardi goal which Metz could only reply once through Fabien Centonze led PSG to displace Lille from the top position.

PSG collected 72 points, two points ahead of Lille, who just played their match on Sunday, April 25.

As for Metz, this defeat made them slump to 10th place under OGC Nice, due to behind on goal difference, even though the two teams both collected 43 points, according to the official French League page.

Carrying a dream of defending the title, PSG appeared aggressive from the start and was able to open the scoring when the game was only four minutes old when Mbappe controlled Ander Herrera's hull ball with his chest before firing a volley that tricked goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja.

Despite appearing to dominate throughout the first half, PSG failed to win the lead until halftime and disappeared when the second half was only one minute old.

Farid Boulaya received the ball in the corner of the penalty area before sending in a charming cross which was met by Centozne's header to outwit goalkeeper Keylor Navas and make it 1-1.

The goal seemed to whip at Metz's men and they almost turned the lead in the 52nd minute had it not been for Navas' brilliant action to keep out a Pape Sarr shot.

Four minutes later, it was Oukidja's turn to show off his readiness to ward off Leandro Paredes' close-range volley to keep the score even.

Unfortunately, in the 59th minute, Oukidja's hand was changed by Mbappe like a piece of paper after the French national team star fired a hard, unstoppable shot to restore PSG's lead.

The goal brought control of the game completely back to PSG and Mbappe almost completed his hat-trick in the 81st with a riveting shot that tricked Oukidja, but Boulaya sprinted to clear the ball before crossing the line.

A minute before the dispersal, Icardi locked PSG's victory to 3-1 with a Panenka-style penalty that tricked Oukidja after he was fouled by Dylan Bronn.

Unfortunately, PSG's victory was colored by a bit of concern because Mbappe had to limp off the field in the 87th minute to be replaced by Icardi.

In the next match, PSG will play on Saturday, May 1 next week to host a surprise promotion team RC Lens, a day before Metz travels to the headquarters of the caretaker team Dijon.

However, before that PSG will first appear in the first leg of the Champions League to host Manchester City on Wednesday, April 28.