Sidney Govou's goal deep into the first period of extra-time was enough to give Olympique Lyon their first ever league and cup double after a thrilling encounter in the Coupe de France final...

Extra-time was needed to separate Olympique Lyon from a tenacious PSG side, whose great determination and spirit could have been used earlier in the season. Sidney Govou scored the crucial goal in the 1-0 victory, the forward sending a Benzema cross into the net as the first period of additional time closed. What had passed was a pulsating cup tie with Lyon doing much of the pressing but PSG countering in a fluid, expansive manner.

First Half

Nine goals in two league matches between the clubs suggested that there would be plenty of action. There certainly was in the first half as Lyon pushed forward early on only to be repeatedly countered by a PSG side surprisingly explosive on the break, but neither side could find a breakthrough before half-time.

Twice in the opening five minutes the league champions threatened to beat Jérôme Alonzo. Govou had a header deflected wide by Yepes and, from the resultant corner, Grosso completely missed the ball when well positioned at the back post.

Immediately PSG countered. Pauleta, playing his last game for the Parisians, had an effort scrambled wide by the Lyon defence before Camara rose spectacularly to crash an effort against les Gones' bar with Coupet comprehensively beaten.

Benzema would send a stinging left-footed shot narrowly wide before Juninho fired a long range free-kick wide as Alonzo looked confident in the PSG goal despite a lack of match practise this season.

Although Lyon did threaten these were very much sporadic efforts in the first half as PSG went on to dominate.

Pauleta was clearly aiming to finish his career in Paris with a bang, narrowly diverting Rothen's dangerous cross wide at the near post as PSG again left Coupet rooted to the spot.

Twice more the Portuguese forward would threaten before the interval.

Rothen's deliveries were causing Lyon's defence, which was minus imposing centre-back Cris due to suspension, acute headaches. A corner would fall to the feet of Pauleta on the penalty spot only for his goalbound shot to be cleared from the line by Réveillère.

Next the predatory forward would gather the ball at the edge of the box and strike powerfully towards Coupet's goal but good positioning from the custodian allowed him to gather the ball at the second attempt.

In stoppage time Armand thought he had given PSG the lead as he thumped a Rothen free-kick into the corner of the net but a flag from the referee's assistant denied him where Coupet could not.

Lyon had finished the half very poorly and certainly on the back foot, a poor piece of control from Boumsong in front of the PSG goal preventing les Gones from having a great last minute chance and rather summing up their first half performance succinctly.

Second Half

Unsurprisingly Alain Perrin's side started the second period with a great deal more purpose about their play but were met by stern resistance from a Parisian defence that, had it played in the same manner all season, would have propelled the team to a spot higher in the league standings.

As Paris' defence stood firm in their own box they also offered plenty of threat in Lyon's box as the side from the Rhône valley somehow survived a succession of headers from Yepes and Camara that hit the bar, were saved by Coupet and then clattered off the line by Källström in an extraordinary spell.

This would be the Swede's last action of the game as he trotted off to be replaced by Bodmer, who immediately threatened the PSG goal with a low shot at the near post that was repelled crucially by Yepes as Alonzo was beaten.

Pauleta was given a merited standing ovation as he was replaced by Luyindula; however these cheers were quickly silenced as Squillaci went close to winning the match for Lyon; the defender could not quite do anything with Juninho's dangerous swirling free-kick.

Normal time would finish as it had started as both sides went close. Benzema brought out another heroic block from the superb Yepes while Juninho whistled an effort past the post in injury time. Even deeper into time added on a first time Mendy shot after great work from Diané would have clinched the match for PSG but for Coupet making his best save of the match.

Extra-time

The early part of extra-time offered little in the way of goal mouth excitement although Squillaci was a little fortunate to remain on the park after crunching into Luyindula when already possessing one yellow card to his name.

Two minutes before the change of ends the deadlock was finally broken. Benzema zipped a ball into the box towards Keita, although the Ivorian miss-controlled the cross allowing Govou to strike a shot beyond Alonzo to open the scoring.

In the final quarter of an hour PSG fought unsuccessfully to level. Luyindula sent an effort wide while Boumsong's blocked a dangerous Diané header as Lyon held on.

Given his status as one of only three players to have featured in all 7 of Lyon's title successes (the others being Coupet and Juninho) it was fitting that Govou struck the killer blow as Lyon claimed their first ever league and cup double. Such a triumph did not come easy as PSG played with great spirit and determination; a far better showing from the Parisians that what had preceded in their Ligue 1 campaign.

Source : Goal.com 

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