Giroud takes only 11 minutes to score on return to Ligue 1 as his new side Lille draws at Brest

PARIS (AP) — Veteran striker Olivier Giroud took only 11 minutes to score on his return to Ligue 1, but it was not enough as his new side Lille drew 3-3 at Brest on Sunday.

Giroud was picked out by Felix Correia’s clever pass behind the defense and finished with a left-footed shot under the goalkeeper. The 38-year-old Giroud became Lille’s oldest scorer in Ligue 1 and he lasted the whole game.

“It was a special moment for me and I’m happy to be back in Ligue 1,” Giroud told broadcaster DAZN. “The coach asked me several times how I was feeling and I said I wanted to play until the end.”

Midfielder Hakon Arnar Haraldsson made it 2-0 before Kamory Doumbia scored twice to level the match. Lille regained the lead midway through the second half when Ngal’ayel Mukau scored following a corner, but Julien Le Cardinal equalized.

Paris Saint-Germain will begin its title defense later Sunday with a trip to Nantes, and traveled without goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who said he wants to leave the club and has been linked with a move to Manchester City.

In other matches, striker Esteban Lepaul’s early goal was enough for Angers to win 1-0 at home to newly promoted Paris FC despite having midfielder Louis Mouton sent off in the 57th.

Striker Lassine Sinayoko scored early in the second half as Auxerre won 1-0 at home against Lorient, which was promoted as Ligue 2 winner.

Metz started with 16-year-old prospect Brian Madjo in attack but conceded a late goal in a 1-0 home loss to Strasbourg. New signing Joaquin Panichelli scored for the visitors.

Back to France

Giroud joined Lille after a disappointing spell with Los Angeles FC.

He previously made his name with AC Milan, Chelsea and Arsenal — the club he joined from Montpellier after winning the French title in 2012 and scoring 21 league goals that season.

Giroud is France’s all-time leading men’s scorer with 57 goals and won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus.

“I wanted to challenge myself one more time,” Giroud said. ___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer