Paris Saint-Germain brought a measure of solace to their beleaguered coach Antoine Kombouare with a 3-2 win at home to Auxerre on Sunday that ended a damaging four-game winless streak.
Media reports claim Kombouare could be ushered through the exit at any moment but he saw his side prevail through an 81st-minute penalty by Nene.
Nene's goal put the hosts 3-1 up, but Auxerre set up an edgy finale when substitute Dariusz Dudka scorched a free-kick into the top-right corner with three minutes remaining.
The result took PSG back into second place above Lille, three points behind leaders Montpellier, while Auxerre remain 16th.
PSG controlled possession in the first half but did not trouble visiting goalkeeper Olivier Sorin, although Jeremy Berthod was fortunate not to concede a penalty after blocking a Nene free-kick with his arm.
Jeers greeted the half-time whistle and the home fans' mood was not improved by two extraordinary misses inside the first three minutes of the second period.
First, Javier Pastore miscued from six yards out and then Nene committed an even bigger howler by rolling the ball against the left-hand post from barely three yards out, albeit at a slight angle.
Jeremy Menez was at the origin of both opportunities but he refused to be cowed by his team-mates' wastefulness and moments later teed up Christophe Jallet to slash a shot into the bottom-right corner for the opening goal.
Relief swept around Parc des Princes but it proved short-lived as Dennis Oliech drew Auxerre level seven minutes later.
The Kenyan followed in after Salvatore Sirigu saved his initial shot and slammed the rebound past the Italian goalkeeper via a deflection off PSG skipper Mamadou Sakho.
Parc des Princes became restless but Menez restored the hosts' lead in the 76th minute when he converted Nene's cross, before Nene scored what proved to be the winner from the spot after he had been fouled by Cedric Hengbart.
"The coach is trying to do his best and we're all behind him," said Nene, who also paid tribute to his late countryman Socrates, the brother of former PSG favourite Rai. "It's sad news, a huge loss for Brazil."
A goal after just 16 seconds from Jaroslav Plasil -- the fastest of the season to date -- set Bordeaux on their way to a 2-0 win at home to second-bottom Nancy.
Brazilian defender Henrique claimed the second goal at the start of the second half, as Francis Gillot's side recorded consecutive wins for the first time this season and climbed to 12th in the standings.
Fifth-placed Lyon host the side immediately below them, Toulouse, in Sunday's late game, when victory for either side would take them about Rennes into fourth place.
Montpellier moved clear at the summit after a 4-0 home win over Lorient on Saturday, with Ligue 1 top scorer Olivier Giroud claiming his 12th goal of the season and laying on the three other goals.
An 80th-minute penalty from substitute Eden Hazard gave reigning champions Lille a battling 3-2 victory at bottom club Ajaccio.
Source: AFP
