Zlatan Ibrahimovic records hat trick as PSG go top overnight

Xavier Laine/Getty Images

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A Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat trick earned Paris St Germain a 3-1 win at home against struggling Lorient on Friday night, but they left it late to secure victory.

The hosts were locked at 1-1 before Ibrahimovic scored his second penalty of the game in the 82nd minute and completed his treble at the death.

The Swede's fourth-minute opener from the spot had earlier been cancelled out by Jordan Ayew, but the capital club responded to move a point clear of Lyon at the top of Ligue 1, having played a game more.

The Champions League quarter-finalists were looking to bounce back from defeat to Bordeaux last time out, after which Ibrahimovic was caught on camera ranting about the referee.

They began well as Edinson Cavani latched onto Javier Pastore's ball over the top, but the Uruguay international's effort was well saved by goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.

The Lorient goalkeeper was at fault less than 60 seconds later, though, when he brought down Thiago Silva inside the area and Ibrahimovic dispatched the spot-kick.

The one-way traffic continued and Ezequiel Lavezzi should have doubled his side's lead, but was denied by Lecomte when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Ibrahimovic continued to torment the Lorient defence and PSG's lead could have been healthier at the interval if not for some wasteful finishing from his team-mates.

it was Lorient who looked the better side at the start of the second half, though, and Ayew's powerful near-post effort was punched clear by Salvatore Sirigu.

Lamine Gassama was next to test Sirigu and in the 67th minute PSG were undone as Ayew powered a low 20-yard effort into the bottom corner.

Ayew might have had another but saw his volley from Walid Mesloub's corner hacked off the line by Marco Verratti, before Pastore's control and shot forced another smart save from Lecomte at the other end.

Then, as time ticked away, PSG were awarded their second penalty when Lamine Kone brought down the lively Pastore and Ibrahimovic again made no mistake from 12 yards, converting his seventh spot-kick of the season.

Adrien Rabiot almost added a third for the hosts only for Lecomte to make another impressive stop, but his efforts were in vain as PSG wrapped up the points in added time.

Verrati dispossessed Didier Ndong before releasing Ibrahimovic into the area and the Swede did the rest, firing beyond Lecomte to completed his treble.

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