PARIS, March 18 (Reuters) - Karim Benzema's last-gasp goal earned Olympique Lyon a French Cup quarter-final place after a 2-1 home win over holders Sochaux on Tuesday.
The France striker, who also opened the scoring 10 minutes
into the second half, struck the winner a minute into added time
when he poked home Kader Keita's cross from the right.
Benzema's goal came just two minutes after Kandia Traore had
got Sochaux back in the match with an equaliser.
Earlier on Tuesday, two goals by Loris Arnaud gave Paris St
Germain a 2-1 win over Ligue 2 Bastia in their last 16 match.
Lyon, who have not lifted the trophy since beating Nantes
2-1 in the 1973 final, have won all four meetings with Sochaux
this season after prevailing twice in Ligue 1 and once in the
season opening Trophy of Champions.
Lyon went ahead when Benzema collected a defence-splitting
Cris pass before beating goalkeeper Teddy Richert from close
range but a handling error by Lyon keeper Gregory Coupet from
Traore's effort gifted Sochaux an 89th-minute equaliser.
However, a lapse in concentration by Sochaux's defence
allowed Lyon to score a deserved second goal as extra time
loomed.
At Parc de Princes, PSG's 20-year-old striker Arnaud was the
brightest player in a mostly inexperienced team against Bastia.
He opened the scoring after 18 minutes only for Pierre-Yves
Andre to equalise for the Corsicans with a stunning 25-metre
volley five minutes later.
However, Arnaud netted the winner when he latched onto a
Sylvain Armand cross from the left in the 67th minute.
The victory was a morale boost for PSG, who are only just
above the relegation zone in 17th spot in Ligue 1, ahead of a
tricky league fixture at leaders Lyon on Sunday.
Ligue 2 Dijon reached the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over
third division Tours while Sedan beat Angers 2-0 in an all Ligue
2 clash.
Wednesday's last 16 matches feature second-placed Ligue 1
side Girondins Bordeaux against improving Lille while bottom
team Metz visit Lorient. Ten-times winners Olympique Marseille
travel to amateurs Carquefou, who play in the fifth division.
The quarter-final ties will be played on April 15 and 16.
