22/08/2004
Lyon gain a point but lose Elber at Metz

Champions Lyon gained a point at Metz with a 1-1 draw in the third round of the French football championship, but it came at a price, with Brazilian ace Giovane Elber suffering a serious injury.

The first diagnosis on Elber was a fractured fibula and dislocated right ankle, an injury, if confirmed, that would likely keep him out of the rest of the season.

"We are worried. It seems serious," said coach Paul Le Guen, who nonetheless almost offloaded the Brazilian last season when he declared he was not enjoying his stay since arriving from Bayern Munich.

"It's a big blow for him and for us."

Metz, who missed a penalty, keep their place among the early league leaders, Lens, Toulouse, Marseille and Bastia.

Lyon's defence struggled to contain Metz's early freeflowing attack, Cameroonian Herve Tum shooting over after four minutes and Ludovic Obraniak going close with a well-struck volley in the 18th minute.

Franck Ribery opened Metz's account in the 31st minute for his first goal of the season.

When defender Jeremie Berthod fouled in the box nine minutes later, Babacar Gueye's penalty was saved by Gregory Coupet.

In the second half, Florent Balmont came on for Berthod and scored in the 66th minute after being put through by Hatem Ben Arfa, who himself had replaced the injured Elber.

On Saturday Lens had taken a surprise league lead after a series of upsets left the heavyweight contenders reaching for their headache tablets.

Paris Saint Germain were brought to heel by Toulouse, whose 2-1 win left the French capital side still searching for their first win of the campaign.

Newcomers Caen embarrassed Champions League finalists Monaco 1-0, while down on the south coast Nice were holding former European kingpins Marseille to a 1-1 draw.

Lens saw off another promoted side Istres 2-0 to leave them with three other sides - Toulouse, Marseille and Bastia - on seven points but ahead on goal difference.

PSG's pretensions as serious championship contenders look a little thin after this latest defeat which follows an opening day reverse at Rennes and a 2-2 draw against Caen.

PSG's blushes were shared by Monaco who were unable to come up with an answer to a 21st minute strike from Cyrille Watier, a minute after the Caen player had been booked for a foul on Diego Perez.

Auxerre seem to be surviving well enough after star striker Djibril Cisse's move to Liverpool with Guy Roux's winning 2-1 win over Sochaux.

In Saturday's early game Nice, with two defeats so far, did well to claim their first point of the season against Marseille.

The visitors went ahead through France international Benoit Pedretti who struck a bullet in the 47th minute, but Ivorian international midfielder Serge Die level for Nice 15 minutes later from the penalty spot.

23.08.2004 09:01 +0400
METZ, France (AFP)