LIGUE 1: Clinical Cavani leads PSG, Monaco hit seven at Metz

PARIS, France -- Edinson Cavani was at his clinical best on Saturday with a first-half brace as Paris Saint-Germain eased to a 2-0 victory over Bordeaux, while Monaco thrashed Metz 7-0 to return to the top of Ligue 1.

The oft-maligned Cavani struck twice in the first half-hour at the Parc des Princes as PSG built on their midweek Champions League win away to Ludogorets in Bulgaria and got back on track domestically.

Paris had come into the weekend in fourth spot in the table having lost at Toulouse last time out, their second defeat in just seven league matches under new coach Unai Emery.

"It's possible this was our best match of the season, but in the second half we could have scored a third goal to make things easier and boost our confidence," said Emery, who welcomed the return of the club's ultras after a six-year ban.

"The atmosphere was good. It is more positive for the team and shows it's special to play at the Parc des Princes."

Cavani has extra responsibility as the spearhead of the champions' attack since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he came in for huge criticism for an erratic display in last month's Champions League draw with Arsenal, despite opening the scoring that night.

And yet with his brace on a bright autumn afternoon in the French capital, the Uruguayan has now scored nine times in PSG's subsequent five matches in all competitions.

Cavani got the breakthrough inside three minutes, attacking an Angel Di Maria cross from the left at the near post and heading past Cedric Carrasso in the Bordeaux goal.

Carrasso was kept busy, tipping a Thomas Meunier shot around the post as PSG came forward in search of a second goal.

They duly doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Layvin Kurzawa's low ball in from the left was deftly back-heeled in by Cavani.

It was the former Napoli striker's eighth goal of the season in Ligue 1 and his 13th altogether for club and country since the campaign began.

- Monaco rampant -

Monaco, who snatched a late point against Bayer Leverkusen in Europe midweek, pummelled 10-man Metz as first-half goals from Thomas Lemar, Valere Germain and Bernardo Silva put Leonardo Jardim's visitors in complete control.

Cheick Doukoure's dismissal on the hour left Metz even more vulnerable and Monaco took full advantage with Fabinho scoring from the penalty spot and Guido Carrillo netting his first two goals this term.

Gabriel Boschilia completed the rout, Monaco's biggest away league win in club history, as the principality outfit moved two points clear of erstwhile leaders Nice, who host Lorient on Sunday, with PSG another point further back.

"At 3-0 the match was over. Metz kept on trying to score so they left us lots of space, and with good counter-attacks and a solid team effort we were able to score seven goals," beamed Jardim.

"We've had a very good month of September in both the league and Champions League. But there is still a long way to go in the season."

Lille climbed off the foot of the table as Eder scored for the first time since his winning goal in the Euro 2016 final, the Portugal striker converting a second-half penalty in a 1-0 victory over Nancy.

Dijon fought back to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Montpellier despite a hat-trick from Chad international Casimir Ninga, while Mariusz Stepinski's winner alleviated some of the pressure on Nantes coach Rene Girard following a 1-0 victory over Bastia.

Caen beat Toulouse 1-0 in Normandy, with the big game of the weekend seeing Lyon entertain sworn enemies Saint-Etienne in the Rhone-Alpes derby on Sunday evening.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Portugal stuns France to win Euro 2016

PARIS - Portugal found an unlikely hero as Eder's thunderous finish deep into extra time secured their first European Championship title after they overcame the early loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to snatch a 1-0 victory over hosts France on Sunday.

The substitute picked the perfect time to score his first competitive goal for his country, marauding forward before letting fly with a bullet shot from 25 metres in the 109th minute.

It was a magic moment for the 28-year-old, who plays for French club Lille after a largely unglamorous career, and a cruel blow for France and their coach Didier Deschamps.

His side had dominated the match, but squandered a number of chances, in front of their devastated home support, who arrived at the Stade de France hoping to celebrate a third European crown.

The trophy was lifted triumphantly by Portugal captain Ronaldo, who broke down in tears at the final whistle after his own game had come to a frustrating end after 24 minutes when he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with a knee injury.

The script had been written for him to produce a performance to match his status as one of the game's greats, but he had to settle for a back-stage role after Dimitri Payet's challenge left him in a heap on the floor.

So much of the build-up had focused on Ronaldo and his hopes of crowning a glittering career with the only achievement missing from his CV, a piece of international silverware.

That was achieved, but, with Eder stealing the limelight and his own role reduced to that of a cajoling cheerleader, it was probably not how Ronaldo would have envisaged his evening panning out.

Yet having been part of the Portugal side that were stunned in the final as hosts by Greece in 2004, he celebrated wildly with his team mates as ticker tape rained down from the rafters.

"This is one of the happiest moments in my career," he said. "I've always said I wanted to win a trophy with the national team and make history. And I did it. Thank God, things went well for us."

Coach Fernando Santos, whose side had won only one match inside 90 minutes out of seven at the tournament, hailed a perfectly executed tactical display.

"We were as simple as doves and as wise as serpents," he said.

"Wherever we've gone there have always been Portuguese fans. This lifted our souls. It's hard to describe the players' emotions -- it's incredible."

DEBILITATING DEFEAT

For France it was a debilitating defeat after they had come into the match as heavy favourites and hoping to lift the spirits of a nation still recovering from last November's attacks in Paris.

"We missed a chance, maybe not a unique chance, but a great chance to become European champions," Deschamps said.

"Our disappointment is immense and will take time to digest. We won together, we suffered together and we lost together. It would have been magnificent to offer this trophy to our supporters, here at home."

For the much of the match, there had looked like being only one winner as France began with early attacking intent, fuelled by the bullish presence and charging runs of Moussa Sissoko in midfield.

His 34th-minute shot was well-parried by Portugal keeper Rui Patricio, but by that point the match had settled into a pattern of France probing and pushing but struggling to break down their more defensively-minded opponents.

Without Ronaldo, Portugal seemed in no hurry to rush the ball forward, happy to see the game descend into a cagey, tactical battle.

They had a scare, however, in the 67th minute when Kingsley Coman's cross found Antoine Griezmann unmarked six metres from goal, only for the tournament's top scorer to head a golden opportunity over.

Minutes later, Olivier Giroud, fed by sprightly substitute Coman, forced a diving save from Patricio, who then parried away a pile-driver from Sissoko as France turned the screw.

France's best chance of the night arrived in stoppage time when substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac turned his marker inside out before scuffing a shot past the keeper and against the post, with the ball bouncing across the face of goal and then out of harm's way.

While Portugal continued to sit back in extra time, they had the better chances with Eder's header parried by Hugo Lloris and Raphael Guerreiro striking the crossbar with a free kick before Eder's moment of magic.

(Editing by Ed Osmond/Greg Stutchbury)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com