PSG win to allay drop fears; Lyon coronation on hold

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — Paris St Germain bolstered their chances of avoiding relegation from the French top flight on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Auxerre courtesy of goals from Pedro Pauleta and a brace from Amara Diane while fellow strugglers Lens went down 3-2 at Le Mans.

Skipper Pauleta, now 34 and playing in his fifth and final season at the Parc des Princes, had urged the fans to get behind a team woefully short on confidence despite a League Cup final success and run to the French Cup semi-finals.

And the former Bordeaux man led by example, netting his 200th goal in France in all competitions with a fine strike after seeing his initial third-minute free kick come back off the visiting wall before Diane notched his double.

Jean-Pascal Mignot scored a consolation...