LYON, France (AP) - Lyon beat second-division Troyes 2-1 in the French League Cup semifinals on Wednesday to line up Paris Saint-Germain.
Lyon reached the final for the fifth time, but it has won the competition only once, in 2001.
Forward Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring in the 16th minute by firing into the bottom corner before striker Bafetimbi Gomis doubled the lead with a tap-in in the 27th.
Troyes capitalized on some poor marking to pull one back in the 35th with a close-range effort from Brazilian midfielder Xavier Thiago.
“It was important to do anything to go through,” Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons said.
Lyon, sixth in the league, was without playmakers Yoann Gourcuff, carrying a groin injury, and Clement Grenier, who was suspended.
The hosts took the lead when Lacazette converted a low cross from right back Mehdi Zeffane with a first-time effort from 14 meters.
Lacazette created the second goal by releasing Jimmy Briand down the left flank. Briand cut the ball back for Gomis, who beat Troyes goalkeeper Matthieu Dreyer to the ball to flick home.
Lyon nearly made it 3-0 in the 32nd when Lacazette sent a ball over the top for Gomis, whose half-volley sailed wide.
Troyes, a mid-table team in the second division, went close in the 34th with Benjamin Nivet, whose shot Dreyer tipped over the bar.
A minute later, Thiago cut Lyon’s lead to 2-1 by chesting down a corner to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
Lyon had two goals disallowed for offside in the second half, but it managed to protect its lead as goalkeeper Anthony Lopes stopped a diving header from Troyes substitute Georges Gope-Fenepej in the 87th.
“We have nothing to be ashamed of,” Troyes striker Ghislain Gimbert said. “We came here and played our game.”
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