Olivier Giroud scores twice to secure Lille victory against Paris FC in Ligue 1

Experienced striker Olivier Giroud scored a brace to help Lille secure a 4-2 victory against Paris FC at home in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The 39-year-old found the net in each half following an early opener from Willem Geubbels for the away team.

Aissa Mandi added a header for the third goal and Lohann Doucet pulled one back late on before Marius Broholm converted a penalty to confirm Lilles position in the top four on 23 points.

Paris FC opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Geubbels slotted the ball into an empty goal after Vincent Marchetis powerful shot hit the crossbar and rebounded favourably to him.

Giroud drew Lille level just before the break on 40 minutes by finishing Romain Perrauds cross with ease.

This marked the 2018 World Cup winners first Ligue 1 goal for Lille since his strikes in the teams initial two matches back in August.

Lille controlled the second half yet struggled to break through until the closing stages.

Replacement Hakon Haraldsson was fouled from behind while reaching for a low delivery into the area and Giroud calmly converted the resulting penalty with 13 minutes left.

Mandi extended the lead by heading in a corner at the far post during the 80th minute.

Paris FC responded quickly when Doucet fired home from close range soon after.

However following intense defensive efforts and Broholms penalty in the 96th minute Lilles hard-earned win was assured under Bruno Genesio.

In an earlier match Lyon drew 0-0 away at relegation-threatened Auxerre halting the home sides four-match losing run in the league.

Lyon sit on 21 points now further adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in the title chase.

It could have been grimmer for the seven-time Ligue 1 champions had goalkeeper Dominik Greif not stopped a penalty from Lassine Sinayoko in the first half.

We must improve. We dropped three crucial points during a key phase of the season Lyon assistant coach Jorge Maciel commented.

Ambition is demonstrated through actions on the field not just words.

Auxerre stay three points above the drop zone after fellow strugglers Lorient and Nantes shared a 1-1 result.

Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem rescued a draw for his team in the 91st minute negating his earlier own-goal in first-half added time that had seemed to gift Lorient the win.

Metz who also have 11 points but worse goal difference took Lorrents place in the bottom three following a 3-2 loss to Brest in added time.

Romain Del Castillos spot-kick in the 10th minute of stoppage time sealed an eighth defeat for Stephane Le Mignans squad.

Brest formerly in the Champions League rose to 14th on 13 points.

Angers defeated Toulouse 1-0 with an early strike from Yassin Belkhdim moving them level with their rivals in mid-table on 16 points.