Lyon, PSG share spoils but miss out on top spot

Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain both spurned the chance to reach the top of the French first division table as they fought out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Stade Gerland on Sunday.

Guillaume Hoarau put PSG 2-1 up from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining but Bafetimbi Gomis smashed home an equaliser five minutes later after seizing on a dreadful clearance by visiting goalkeeper Apoula Edel.

Aly Cissokho had put Lyon ahead with his first league goal for the club, but PSG drew level through top scorer Nene and Cissokho was then sent off for a challenge on Nene that led to the penalty.

A win would have taken Lyon level on points with leaders Marseille, while victory for PSG would have sent them a point clear at the top.

As it was, the club from the capital climbed to third, a point behind Marseille and second-placed Lille, while Claude Puel’s side moved up to seventh.

PSG coach Antoine Kombouare said he was frustrated at dropping the two points.

“It seemed we had it won three minutes from the end and so the first feeling is one of frustration as we had the three points in the bag. But I am proud of the players as they showed a lot of character first to come back and then take the lead. It’s encouraging for the future,” Kombouare said.

Lyon coach Puel as likewise not entirely happy.

“It’s a disappointment. It’s good to have been able to equalise despite the numerical disadvantage, which shows character, but we had chances to double our lead.”

Lyon have suffered from sloppy starts in recent weeks, as in their 3-0 defeat at Schalke in the Champions League in mid-week, but after bossing the first half they went ahead in the 54th minute.

It was Cissokho who provided the killer touch, striding onto Kim Kallstrom’s through-ball and placing the ball inside Edel’s near post.

Ludovic Giuly squandered an opportunity to reply immediately for PSG when he headed over from close range.

The equaliser arrived moments later though, with Hoarau hurdling a challenge from Dejan Lovren, electing not to dive and crossing for Nene to head home.

Nene tumbled theatrically under Cissokho’s challenge but it convinced referee Fredy Fautrel to point to the spot and Hoarau placed the ball to Hugo Lloris’s left for his sixth league goal of the season.

Edel’s rash clearance made sure that PSG would not depart with all three points, however, as it gave the ball straight to Gomis, who slipped between two defenders and drove home from the edge of the box.

There was even time for both teams to spurn chances to claim a late winner, with PSG substitute Stephane Sessegnon dragging wide from Hoarau’s knock-down and Gomis hitting the side netting in injury time.

Earlier, Toulouse moved up to 11th place and ended a run of three straight losses by consigning Auxerre to their first defeat in six league matches with a 2-1 victory at Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps.

Goals from Daniel Braaten and 19-year-old Federico Santander, his first for the club, put the visitors 2-0 up, with Alain Traore pulling one back in the second half after good work from Julien Quercia.

“Looking at the dynamic that we had, with three defeats, this victory turns things around,” said Toulouse coach Alain Casanova.

In the day’s other early game, Sochaux won 3-0 at second-bottom Caen — without a win in nine games — to climb above Lorient into ninth place.

“There’s lots of fear: the players look at each other in the eyes but there’s no-one who shouts louder than the others,” said Caen coach Franck Dumas. “They’re good guys, but not for Ligue 1.”

Defending champions Marseille went top for the first time this season after winning 4-0 at home to Montpellier on Saturday, despite losing right-back Cesar Azpilicueta to a serious knee ligament injury early in the game.

Lille slipped off top spot on goal difference after drawing 1-1 at Bordeaux, while Rennes have now won just one of their last six leagues games following a 2-0 defeat at Brittany rivals Lorient.