France round-up: PSG ease pressure on Fernandez
Wednesday, December 4, 2002
Article summary
Paris Saint-Germain FC ended a run of five winless games with a 2-0 victory against Olympique Lyonnais.
Article body
Paris Saint-Germain FC ended a run of five games without a win when they beat champions Olympique Lyonnais 2-0 on a busy night of Ligue 1 action tonight.
Lyon miss chance
Lyon, who had not lost in Paris for four years, missed the chance to reclaim top spot in their battle with OGC Nice, who are two points clear after a comfortable 3-1 defeat of AC Ajaccio on Tuesday. PSG's win moved them up to seventh place and could grant a reprieve to coach Luis Fernandez, who has been the target of criticism recently.
Tense affair
The game, played in pouring rain, was a tense affair. There was not a single shot at goal in the first 20 minutes but PSG defender Gabriel Heinze eventually broke the deadlock after 38 minutes. The Argentinian slipped behind the defence as Ronaldinho fired in a long-range free-kick and volleyed the ball into the net from near the penalty spot.
A 'happy man'
"I don't know what my future will be but tonight I'm a happy man," said Fernandez after the game. "This game was played in very special conditions, a lot of things had been written but the players reacted magnificently and I want to thank them. I'm proud of them. Of course, it's PSG's duty to play well and to win but people have to understand that one needs serenity and stability to build a great team."
El Karkouri on target
PSG's second goal was scored by Moroccan Talal El-Karkouri who pushed the ball into the net in the 53rd minute after Lyon goalkeeper Grégory Coupet palmed it into his path following another powerful Ronaldinho free-kick.
Four-team pack
Meanwhile, En Avant Guingamp beat FC Nantes Atlantique 2-0 to move into third place, level with Lyon on 31 points. Also in the four-team pack of sides on 31 points are Olympique de Marseille, who beat FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 1-0, and AJ Auxerre, who had three points provisionally reinstated today regarding their controversial game against CS Sedan-Ardennes and then drew 2-2 with Lille OSC and .
Monaco up to sixth
AS Monaco FC moved into sixth position with a narrow 2-1 win at Montpellier Hérault SC. SC Bastia lost 1-0 at home to Sedan and RC Strasbourg went down 3-1 at home to Stade Rennais FC, who moved off the bottom and into 17th place. Finally, ES Troyes Aube Champagne and RC Lens drew 0-0.
