Eduardo thwarts OM after Coupet blow for PSG

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PARIS, Nov 28, 2009 (AFP) - An injury-time goal by Brazilian striker Eduardo earned Lens a 1-0 victory at home to Marseille on Saturday that prevented Didier Deschamps's side from moving to within a point of top spot.

Auxerre remain top of the division despite losing 1-0 at Paris Saint-Germain, in a game over-shadowed by a serious leg injury sustained by PSG goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.

Marseille dominated for long spells at the Stade Felix Bollaert but were grateful to goalkeeper Steve Mandanda for saving Yohan Demont's 62nd-minute penalty, which the Lens skipper took himself after being fouled by Garry Bocaly.

Mandanda's plunging save appeared to have rescued a point for the Mediterranean side but in the second minute of injury time Eduardo converted Sebastien Roudet's free-kick with a diving header to lift Lens nine points clear of the relegation zone.

"It's true, we've had some difficult moments this season, but the coach has talked to us and this is the result," said Eduardo.

"We played some lovely football tonight."

Marseille, who had lost just twice before in the league, remain seventh.

At the Parc des Princes, PSG were leading through Jeremy Clement's fine second-half header when Coupet's left leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance.

The former France international was stretchered from the pitch and his coach Antoine Kombouare said he was unlikely to play again this season.

"It's definitely a fracture of the left leg," Kombouare said.

"He went straight to hospital and we'll know more about how serious it is on Sunday. He'll be unavailable for a long time and it will be very complicated (to get him back before the end of the season)."

Coupet's injury cast a dark shadow over a match that saw PSG secure only their second league win since August and end Auxerre's seven-game winning streak.

"We're disappointed that our run has come to an end," said Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez. "We weren't up to speed in the first half and Paris put us under a lot of pressure in the second."

Meanwhile, rock-bottom Grenoble were denied their first victory of the season by a dramatic late goal at Lorient.

The home side took the lead in fortuitous circumstances, when Marama Vahirua's free-kick ballooned off visiting goalkeeper Ronan Le Crom and was directed into the net for an own goal by Bostjan Cesar.

Grenoble fought back in the second period, with Japanese forward Daisuke Matsui equalising and midfielder Jimmy Juan poking the visitors into the lead after Lorient goalkeeper Lionel Cappone fumbled a high ball.

Victory was in sight for Mecha Bazdarevic's charges, only for Lorient to snatch an equaliser in the second minute of injury time when Kevin Gameiro capitalised on an error from Le Crom to slam home.

The point moves Lorient up to second place, above champions Bordeaux and Lyon on goal difference and a point behind Auxerre, while luckless Grenoble are now 10 points from safety.

Valenciennes fell to their first defeat in six matches when they went down 4-0 at Lille.

Elsewhere, Toulouse moved into the top half with a 1-0 victory over Boulogne and Nice's four-game winning run ended with a 1-0 loss at Sochaux.

Monaco's home game with Montpellier was postponed due to an outbreak of the H1N1 virus at the visiting club.

In Sunday's matches, Bordeaux visit Nancy, Lyon host Rennes and fourth-bottom Saint-Etienne travel to second-bottom Le Mans.