Pauleta strikes as PSG make French League Cup final

Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 Auxerre

Pedro Pauleta got his name on the scoresheet as Paris Saint-Germain beat Auxerre at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night to book their place in the French League Cup final.

The club from the capital, who sit in 16th place in Ligue 1, may yet qualify for Europe and salvage something from what has been yet another poor season for Paul le Guen’s men.

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Having played a rare full ninety minutes during the weekend draw with Monaco, Pauleta had done enough to convince le Guen he was worthy of another starting place, with the former Lyon boss partnering the Portuguese with Pegguy Luyindula in attack.

Paris SG took the lead after half an hour when a corner led to Auxerre goalkeeper Remy Riou blocking Sylvain Armand’s goal-bound effort, only for Colombian defender Mario Yepes to fire into the corner from the rebound.

Poacher Pauleta

Pauleta doubled the hosts’ advantage minutes before half time with a trademark poacher’s goal, nodding in from inside the area following some poor defending from Auxerre. It was the Azorean’s 23rd goal in 24 cup matches since his move to Paris from Bordeaux in 2003.

Auxerre got themselves back into the tie when PSG goalkeeper Michael Landreau continued his uncertain recent form by punching the ball into his own net from Benoit Pedretti’s corner with fifteen minutes remaining, but right-back Bernard Mendy restored the two-goal advantage with a solo run and left-footed finish just minutes later.

Julien Quercia registered a late consolation for Auxerre with an acrobatic effort three minutes into stoppage time, but Pauleta, who was substituted just after the hour, and his side will meet the winner of tomorrow’s other semi between Le Mans and Lens in the final next month.

Paris Saint-Germain:
Landreau, Ceara, Camara, Yepes, Armand, Mendy (Souza, 80), Clément, Bourillon, Rothen (Sankharé, 86), Luyindula, Pauleta (Diané, 62)
Yellow Cards: None

Auxerre:
Riou, Thomas, Traoré, Grichting, Jaurès (Mignot, 86), Munteanu (Quercia, 65), Pedretti, Chafni, Oliech, Lejeune (Jelen, 62), Niculae
Yellow Cards: Pedretti (50)

Goals:
[1-0] Yepes, 31
[2-0] Pauleta, 43
[2-1] Landreau, 74 (o.g.)
[3-1] Mendy, 79
[3-2] Quercia, 93