Lavezzi goal lifts PSG past Metz, to Ligue 1 lead

Ezequiel Lavezzi fired Paris Saint-Germain to the top of the French league on Friday. (Michel Euler/AP)

METZ, France — Ezequiel Lavezzi fired Paris Saint-Germain to the top of the French league on Friday by scoring the winner in the 3-2 victory over promoted Metz.

The Argentina forward slid home a rebound in the 83rd minute after Metz goalkeeper Johann Carrasso had denied Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

PSG playmaker Javier Pastore opened the scoring by finishing off a counterattack with a chip in the ninth minute.

The defending champion doubled its lead with an own goal from Metz defender Gaetan Bussmann, who turned a free kick from Lavezzi into his own net in the 16th.

However, PSG blew that two-goal lead when Metz striker Modibo Maiga converted two penalties in the second half.

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