Lyon suffer shock League Cup exit

Olympique Lyon suffered another setback when Lorient knocked them out of the French League Cup with a 1-0 home win on Wednesday.

Forward Kevin Gameiro exploited a blunder from Croatia defender Dejan Lovren to volley home from close range on four minutes and send Lorient into the last four.

Lyon, who were knocked out of the French Cup in the round of 32 by Monaco on Sunday, lie fifth in the Ligue 1 standings, 11 points off leaders Girondins Bordeaux, and will face Real Madrid in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

All that means the seven-times Ligue 1 champions, who were the measure of all things in France for years, face the prospect of ending the season without a title.

Toulouse also reached the League Cup semi-finals, with a 1-0 win at second division Guingamp, the French Cup holders, courtesy of a second-half goal from defender Albin Ebondo.

In French Cup round of 32 action, third division Plabennec, who knocked out Nice in the previous round, scored another upset by winning 2-0 at Nancy with second-half goals from forward Vincent Crehin.