PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé celebrated his 25th birthday with two goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat lowly Metz 3-1 on Wednesday to open the winter break five points clear in the French league.
The French star got a birthday bonus when his 16-year-old brother Ethan Mbappé made his debut entering as a timeout substitute.
Kylian Mbappé extended his league-leading tally to 18 goals. He has 21 goals in total this season and since joining PSG from Monaco in 2017, has scored a club record 233 goals in 282 appearances.
Mbappe’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to say whether he will sign an extension or leave on a free transfer, possibly to long-time suitors Real Madrid.
Portugal midfielder Vitinia headed in a cross from the left to put PSG ahead in the 49th minute after a lackluster first half and then provided the pass for Mbappe’s trademark shot from the left of the penalty area into the top right corner in 60th
Although the shot was struck firmly and accurately, veteran goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja was too far off his line and also jumped too early, allowing the ball to sail over him.
After defender Matthieu Udol pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute following poor PSG corner marking, Mbappé capitalized on a defensive error to turn Oukidja in the 83rd minute to make it 3-1.
Metz are down in 14th place and fans may not be thrilled that manager László Bölöni spoke at length and then posed for a photo with Mbappé in the tunnel after the match.
Second-placed Nice moved five points behind PSG with a 2-0 home win over seventh-placed Lens, who had not lost in their previous 11 league games dating back to their previous defeat on September 16. Nigeria striker Terem Mophie scored both goals late in the second half.
Wissam Ben Yedder is the only player to match Mbappé’s tally in recent seasons. The veteran striker scored both to take his tally to eight goals as third-placed Monaco won 2-1 in Toulouse to stay two points behind Nice.
Fourth place Brest was a surprise this season and a remarkable individual performance saw 20-year-old Mali midfielder Kamory Doumbia score four times in the first half in a 4-0 home win over Lorient.
After keeping PSG in 1-1 draw at home last weekend, Lille lost 2-1 to Strasbourg and dropped to fifth place.
OTHER COMPETITIONS
Sixth-placed Marseille needed a header from midfielder Jordan Veretou to draw 1-1 at southern rivals Montpellier, while Japanese striker Keito Nakamura’s first-half goal earned eighth-placed Reims a 1-0 home win against Le Havre .
Rennes recovered from conceding an early goal to beat Clermont 3-1 and veteran striker Alexandre Lacazette’s goal secured 15th-placed Lyon who beat Nantes 1-0 for a third straight win under caretaker manager Pierre Satz.
The 18-team league resumes on January 12.
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