Pauleta pounces for PSG

By Chris Burke

A spirited comeback sent Paris Saint-Germain FC through to the last 16 of the French Cup as new coach Laurent Fournier's first match ended with a 3-1 win at home against FC Girondins de Bordeaux, while Olympique Lyonnais also qualified with a 2-1 victory at Toulouse FC.

European hopes
PSG kept alive their hopes of playing European football next season with a victory that had looked unlikely in the dying stages of normal time until, in the 86th minute, Colombian defender Mario Yepes cancelled out Marouane Chamakh's opener for the visitors. Bordeaux had been playing a man down ever since the Moroccan striker received a second yellow card for removing his shirt after his 40th-minute goal, and the numerical advantage eventually told in the capital club's favour.

Pauleta double
Pauleta latched on to a cross from Reinaldo to put PSG in front for the first time four minutes into extra-time and Bordeaux's chances of bringing themselves back into the tie took a further blow when Albert Riera went off injured with all three substitutions already made. Soon afterwards, Pauleta pounced again to put the result beyond doubt and Fournier's side can now look forward to a trip to AJ Auxerre in the fifth round.

Lyon through
Lyon's hard-earned win took them a step closer to their first French Cup success since 1973. Appalling weather conditions in Toulouse made life difficult for both sides and it took Lyon forward Sylvain Wiltord's powerful header to finally bring the game to life on 65 minutes, before Stéphane Dalmat quickly brought the home side level with an excellent curling shot from 20 metres out.

Diarra penalty
Toulouse were behind again five minutes later, though, after goalkeeper Christophe Revault brought down Brazilian forward Nilmar in the area and Lyon captain Mahamadou Diarra converted from the spot. Lyon face Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot Auvergne in the last 16 next month.