29 October 2007, by Lorna Danion

Pauleta double fails to save PSG

Paris Saint-Germain 2-3 Lyon

Pedro Pauleta’s second half brace was not enough to prevent Paris Saint-Germain from continuing their winless home record with a defeat to champions Lyon at the Parc Des Princes.

Having gone into the game with just three points from their opening six home games, Le Guen resisted the temptation to start the veteran striker. However, Pauleta was introduced early in the second half as the home side made a decent fight of a game that appeared lost at half time.

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The opening half hour was well contested by both sides, but while there were few chances, Lyon always looked the stronger team. Impressive youngster Karim Benzema offered the first genuine threat with a weaving run that drew a smart save from Mikael Landreau.

The chance would prove a warning sign as Lyon struck twice in three minutes at the end of the first period. A poor clearance from PSG’s Ceara fell to Hatem Ben Arfa, who brilliantly drilled the ball into the bottom corner. The 20-year-old then added a second in similar circumstances, rifling in after Benzema’s effort was parried by Landreau.

Anderson red-carded

Lyon started the second half in ominous fashion, with Ben Arfa wasting a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick just five minutes after the re-start. However, the home side were thrown a lifeline when former Benfica defender Anderson was sent off for what the referee harshly adjudged to be a cynical last-man challenge on Diane.

With a numerical advantage, Le Guen immediately called for Pauleta, who was greeted by a vociferous welcome from the Parisian crowd. The Azorean’s impact was immediate, as he brilliantly touched a Yepes pass on to Diane, who fired wide from a good position on the right of the area.

Pauleta got his goal just after the hour mark, scoring only his second of a season in which he has largely been reduced to watching from the sidelines. Lyon goalkeeper Vercoutre failed to get any distance on his punch from a Jerome Rothen corner, and Pauleta found himself free at the back post, with his side-footed finish going into the ground before looping over the line.

Lyon appeared happy to soak up the ensuing PSG pressure and hit their opponents on the counter attack, and after weathering the immediate storm, the champions regained their two-goal cushion when a superb move resulted in Francois Clerc crossing for Govou to score from close-range.

Pauleta poaches his second

The goal was a bitter blow for PSG, but there was still time for Pauleta to give a reminder to his manager of his goalscoring instincts. Another Rothen corner saw the ball fall to the Portuguese in an identical position at the back post, with Pauleta this time cutting inside and firing a shot past Vercoutre with the help of a deflection.

There was almost a dream finale for the 34-year-old one minute later. Another set-piece was cleared to the edge of the area and Pauleta connected with a sweet first time shot, but the ball took a touch off a Lyon defender before whistling wide of the post.

Pedro Pauleta:

“Unlike the last match against Rennes, the team fought until the end tonight. It was a shame to concede those two goals at the end of the first half. We tried to equalise after the break, which is never easy against a side like Lyon. It is important to carry on in this frame of mind as we look for our first win at the Parc.”


Paris Saint-Germain:
Landreau, Camara, Ceara, Sakho, Yepes, Ngoyi (Pauleta, 54), Clement, Arnaud (Luyindula, 67), Sankhare, Diane
Yellow Cards: Sankhare (54), Pauleta (58), Diane (79)

Lyon:
Vercoutre, Clerc, Belhadj, Anderson, Squillaci, Bodmer, dos Santos, Juninho (Kallstrom, 80), Ben Arfa (Reveillere, 73), Govou, Benzema (Fred, 85)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: Anderson (52)

Goals:
[0-1] Ben Arfa, 41
[0-2] Ben Arfa, 43
[1-2] Pauleta, 61
[1-3] Govou, 85
[2-3] Pauleta, 90 + 2