Horeau brace helps PSG stun Nancy 4-1

Paris Saint Germain continued their unlikely charge towards a first league title since 1994 with a commanding 4-1 win over visitors Nancy on Sunday.

A brace from striker Guillaume Hoarau, either side of Ludovic Giuly’s 13th minute strike, gave the hosts a 3-1 half-time lead after Julien Ferret had briefly reduced the arrears for Nancy in the 29th minute.

A fourth goal from Stephane Sessegnon after the interval put a share of the points firmly beyond Nancy’s reach.

Ahead of Lyon’s late match at home to Rennes Sunday, Paul Le Guen’s PSG side – who flirted with being relegated last year – have moved to within three points of the leaders and reigning champions Lyon.

On what proved to be a positive day of football for several serious contenders Marseille’s 1-0 win away to Caen moved them up to third place on 48 points, one adrift of PSG.

Bordeaux made sure they joined the chase, a 1-0 win at home to Lorient moving Laurent Blanc’s side, champions in 1999, up to fourth, one point adrift of Marseille and two behind PSG.

Given their shaky end to last season, PSG’s resurgence this term has introduced some welcome suspense in a league campaign that for the past seven years Lyon have dominated.

Hoarau opened the scoring after just 10 minutes after rising above the visitors’ defence to meet Jerome Rothen’s freekick and send a firm header past Gennaro Bracigliano.

Two minutes later a neat move by Sessegnon allowed the midfielder to set up the ball nicely for Giuly, whose rapid-fire shot left Bracigliano beaten.

Nancy briefly reduced arrears through Feret’s superb lob, from an impossible angle, of PSG keeper Mickael Landreau on the half hour.

But ten minutes later Horeau pounced on another freekick from Rothen after Nancy’s attempt to spring the off-side trap left the big PSG striker on his own. Bracigliano blocked his first attempt, but Hoarau was quick to pounce on the rebound.

PSG midfielder Sessegnon put the match well beyond Nancy’s reach with a 64th minute goal.