Lyon, Paris FC close in on PSG at top of Ligue 1

PARIS, NOV 2: Lyon and Paris FC both won to close in on defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the capital team defeating Monaco 3-1 despite a first goal of the season for United States star Folarin Balogun.

Lyon won 2-0 at home to Angers with goals in each half from Ernest Nuamah and captain Corentin Tolisso, as they bounced back from a 2-0 defeat away to PSG last time out.

The seven-time French title winners are third in the table, three points behind leaders PSG and one behind second-placed Lille. Lyon's win came amid reports that coach Paulo Fonseca is close to leaving the club to return to his native Portugal.

"I know that I will be with the players tomorrow morning but beyond that it is hard to say," Fonseca, who was in tears as he embraced his backroom staff at the end of the game, told reporters at a post-match press conference.

Fonseca, the former trainer of Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Roma and AC Milan among other clubs, is reportedly a target for Portuguese giants Sporting, whose own coach Rui Borges is under pressure.

Paris FC, who have big ambitions under the ownership of the mega-rich Arnault family, are fourth in the Ligue 1 table, behind Lyon on goal difference, after getting the better of Monaco at the Stade Jean-Bouin.

Lassine Sinayoko, the Malian international forward, scored twice late in the first half for Paris FC before Balogun pulled one back on 65 minutes.�"AFP