Benzema double helps 10-man Lyon salvage a draw

Share:

April 27, 2008 17:02 IST

Olympique Lyon recovered from going 2-1 down and the dismissal of Fabio Grosso to draw 2-2 at home to Caen on Saturday to edge closer to a seventh successive Ligue 1 title.

France striker Karim Benzema, the league's top scorer, made it 1-0 on 33 minutes before grabbing his 19th goal of the season with a superb free kick early in the second half.

Caen had been 2-1 up at halftime after goals by Argentine midfielder Juan Eduardo Eluchans and forward Lilian Compan.

Lyon were reduced to 10 men at the interval when Italy defender Grosso received a red card for slapping Caen forward Yoan Gouffran in the tunnel.

With three matches left Lyon have 72 points from 35 games, four points ahead of second-placed Girondins Bordeaux who drew 0-0 at home to mid-table Nice.

PSG WIN

Paris St Germain, in danger of being relegated for the first time, beat Auxerre 3-1 after a two-goal show from Amara Diane.

Former Portugal striker Pauleta, the PSG captain, showed his side the way by opening the scoring from a free kick on three minutes.

Ivory Coast forward Diane made it 2-0 from close range 10 minutes later.

Defender Jean-Pascal Mignot reduced the arrears for the visitors when he headed in a corner on 78 but Diane put the game beyond doubt with his second close-range goal four minutes from time.

PSG stayed third from bottom and in the danger zone but moved level on 38 points with Racing Lens, who lost 3-2 at Le Mans with Japan midfielder Daisuke Matsui scoring twice for the hosts.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Share: