Fifty years ago, Paris Saint-Germain's first top-flight win
It's half a century since Paris Saint-Germain made its bow in the top tier of French football - in the last of a three-part series, PSG.FR takes you back to 25 August 1971 and the Club's first goals and first win in the elite division.
It was 50 years ago on 25 August 1971 that Paris Saint-Germain won 3-2 at Nancy to claim their first maximum points haul in the top division.
Since, there have been 856 victories, but that first one will remain memorable. Fifteen days after a slow start to life among French football's big boys, Paris Saint-Germain did not boast the best record: a defeat at Angers (2-0) and a goalless draw with Bordeaux. So the team travelled to Lorraine not only looking for a first win but also a first goal.
Paris started the game strongly with Michel Prost losing out in a one-on-one duel with home goalkeeper Joseph Magiera (9') before Gérard Hallet shot just wide (12'). The hosts tried to respond, but were caught on the counter-attack and after a collision between Prost and José Lopez - an incident that left the Nancy defender flat on his back - Hallet got the ball and sent a cross over to Jean-Claude Bras, who headed home PSG's first top-flight goal (37')!
Bras was involved a few minutes later when he sprung the offside trap and picked out Prost, who doubled the visitors' lead (43'). Vojin Lazarevic pulled one back just after the break (47'), but Prost restored the two-goal advantage (67') only for Patrice Vicq to then make it a nervy finale (80'). Lazarevic thought he had grabbed an equaliser, but it was ruled out for offside (87').
Paris Saint-Germain did not really have the opportunity to celebrate their first top-flight win though: Lazarevic clashed with Prost - who would join Nancy two years later - and there was a pitch invasion after the final whistle leaving the players to race for the safety of the dressing rooms.
The Parisians waited for more than half-an-hour before leaving the stadium lying down in a fire engine, which was pelted by angry home fans, while the referee required a police escort. The Paris Saint-Germain players were left furious by the events that marred their historic day, incidents that were all the more unexpected as the Nancy fans had been named the league's best just eight days earlier...
AS NANCY LORRAINE - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: 2-3 (0-2)
Wednesday 25 August 1971, Stade Marcel Picot (10 460 fans)
Referee: Achille Verbecke.
Goals: Lazarevic (47'), Vicq (80'); Bras (38', 67'), Prost (43')
NANCY : Magiera - Woltrager, Lopez, Lemerre, Palka - Formica, Vicq - Ehrhardt (Lanini, 70e), Kuzowski, Lazarevic, Mariot. Coach : Redin.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Delhumeau - J. Djorkaeff (c), Solas, Rostagni, Mitoraj - Arribas, Leonetti - Hallet, Prost, Guignedoux, Bras. Coach: Phelipon.
PARt 2: The 1st point vs. Bordeaux
PART 1: a tough start vs. Angers
