No room for sentiment as old boys down Lyon

Goals by former Lyon stars Mathieu Bodmer and Ludovic Giuly saw Paris Saint Germain come from behind and defeat Lyon 2-1 after extra-time handing them a place in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Defeat comes at the end of a period when the side under coach Claude Puel had reacted well to an ultimatum by president Jean-Michel Aulas after a poor start to the league campaign – they have strung together four wins and a draw in the league and are well placed to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

They also looked well set to reach the last eight here when Jimmy Briand fired them into the lead in the 39th minute.

But PSG came alive in the second-half when the visitors were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty for handball by Dejan Lovren.

A minute later French international striker Guillaume Hoarau fierce effort from inside the box was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Remy Vercoutre.

There then followed a mass face-off between players from both sides leading to bookings for Lyon’s Brazilian international Michel Bastos and Christophe Jallet of PSG.

Lyon, though, went close to extending their lead first through Jeremy Pied’s long range shot which beat former Lyon guardian Gregory Coupet but came back off the bar and then Bosnian playmaker Miralem Pjanic’s freekick also beat Coupet only to cannon off the post.

PSG levelled as Bodmer took the ball down and volleyed past Vercoutre to level matters four minutes from time.

Vercoutre saved Lyon in the last minute of normal time as he reacted superbly to Giuly’s header, turning it round the post for a corner sending the sides into extra-time.

However, the Lyon second choice keeper was powerless to save his side in the first-half of extra-time as having brilliantly blocked a close range effort by Pegguy Luyindula, Giuly made no mistake in volleying home from five metres out.

Wednesday’s other matches saw champions and League Cup holders Marseille edge Guingamp 1-0 with Ghanaian star Andre Ayew getting the only goal while both Lille and Auxerre were easy winners.

Lille thrashed Caen 4-1 while Auxerre walloped Bastia 4-0.

On Tuesday Monaco – whose last trophy came in the 2003 League Cup – gained a much needed victory, albeit on penalties over Lorient, to set them up for what could well decide coach Guy Lacombe’s future their league clash with Bordeaux on Sunday.

The 2004 Champions League finalists and last season’s Cup finalists have just one win in their last 10 league matches but at least take on a Bordeaux side that will be lacking in self-confidence after they exited the League Cup at St Etienne.

“It is true that it is absolutely crucial we are really strong and win on Sunday,” said 55-year-old Lacombe.