Lyon edge closer to Monaco

Lyon's hopes of retaining their French league title received a shot in the arm with a narrow win over plucky relegation strugglers Toulouse.

A single goal by Vikash Dhorasoo on the hour handed the champions a 1-0 verdict over their Pyrenean hosts to reduce by two points the gap with leaders Monaco which now stands at four points.

Monaco's title charge was slowed on Friday after Didier Deschamps' highflyers were held to a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint Germain, now in fifth.

Lyon regained second spot after Auxerre had temporarily displaced them earlier Saturday with a 5-0 demolition of 1999 champions Bordeaux, but by day's close Guy Roux's side were lying one point adrift of Lyon.

High-flying Sochaux moved into fourth with a 2-1 home win over Marseille, who slipped a place to seventh on the strength of this latest reverse.

Sochaux's second goal was the result of a penalty after Didier Drogba, responsible for the Marseille goal, handled in the box.

The spot kick was duly converted by Pierre-Alain Frau, the league's second highest scorer.

The top scorer in France this season, Auxerre's Djibril Cisse, took his haul to 17 with a double against Bordeaux.

The France international, who is hoping to join Liverpool, put Auxerre into a seven-minute lead and then added another just before the interval, a penalty awarded after he was fouled by Bruno Basto.

Kanga Akale had doubled Auxerre's advantage with an 11th minute header off a corner taken by captain Yann Lachuer.

And Lachuer was also instrumental in the next, when his cross found Teemu Tainio prowling around the penalty area, the Finnish international's header flying past keeper Ulrich Rame.

Akale struck again on the hour to round off a perfect night for Roux' side.

For Bordeaux this loss capped the end of a painful week for the 1999 titleholders Bordeaux, who were knocked out of the French Cup by Bayonne.

Elsewhere Rennes celebrated their first three points away from home this season with a 2-0 win at bottom-club Guingamp.

Twenty four hours earlier Monaco, who have headed the table since August, went ahead against PSG through Sebastien Squillaci in the 26th minute.

Jerome Rothen fired a freekick on the right into the box and Squillaci rose above the PSG defence at the far post to head the ball in-off the left-hand upright though keeper Jerome Alonzo got a touch before the ball ended up in the net.

But just five minutes later, the capital city club were level.

Monaco keeper Flavio Roma flapped at a corner from the right, thinking he had put it out of play, but Gabriel Heinze was in the right place at the right time to head the ball back into the goal from an acute angle.