PSG suffer 1st Ligue 1 defeat of new year at hands of Lens

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) tasted their first Ligue 1 defeat of the new year with RC Lens beating them 3-1 on Sunday.

Lens' Polish midfielder Przemyslaw Frankowski drew first blood in the fifth minute at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.

Just three minutes later, PSG responded in kind with a goal by young forward Hugo Ekitike.

Belgian attacker Lois Openda brought the lead to the hosts once more in the 28th minute and the first half ended 2-1.

The Parisians' fans might have been hopeful for a comeback from their team in the second half, but Alexis Claude Maurice burst their bubble with another goal for Lens in the 47th minute and the match ended 3-1.

At the beginning of the game, players paid homage to Brazilian football legend Pele, who passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 82.

Another Ligue 1 club, Olympique Lyon, even played with special match jerseys dedicated to Pele against Clermont, which ended 1-0 in Clermont's favor.

Following their second defeat this season, PSG remain atop the Ligue 1 standings with 44 points while runners-up Lens are behind 4 points.