PARIS (AFP) - Resurgent Paris Saint Germain booked their spot in the French League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday with a 4-0 rout of Valenciennes as Japan midfielder Daisuke Matsui ensured Le Mans' passage at the expense of Lyon.

Three days after achieving just their first win of the season at Parc des Princes, PSG confirmed their form with a victory which came despite being reduced to ten men after six minutes when Colombian defender Mario Yepes was given his marching orders for a tackle on Slovak defender Filip Sebo.

Ivorian striker Amara Diane, who scored a double in their 3-0 win over Lens on Sunday, repeated the feat with goals after 55 and 61 minutes.

Pauleta had opened for the hosts after two minutes when he converted a penalty with Jerome Rothen completing the scoreline after 67 minutes.

PSG coach Paul Le Guen said: "Today I'm happy with the score but above all the qualification, our ability to battle. Even if we had difficulties the team remained united throughout the match. We never gave up."

But he warned: "We have to remain vigilant. We mustn't get carried away."

Meanwhile Matsui ensured hosts Le Mans a victory in what was sweet revenge for their demise to the same opponents in last season's last four clash.

Matsui's powerful 29th-minute strike toppled the six-time French champions in a match which had been postponed from Tuesday because of strong winds at the Leon-Bollee Stadium.

Alain Perrin's Lyon were sorely missing midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, who picked up a thigh injury in training and was replaced by the inexperienced Loic Remy.

Perrin bemoaned their exiting even if it is the lowest of his priorities in terms of silverware this season.

"It is a reverse, that is certain," said the former Troyes, Portsmouth and Marseille handler.

"This was one of our targets this season and now it has gone.

"We paid for our first-half performance where we just did not play the match as if it were a Cup match."

For his Le Mans counterpart Rudi Garcia, it was a case of vastly different emotions.

"This is a huge achievement by my players.

"We will savour this victory. Victory has gone to the side that wanted it the most."

Without their African players Romaric and Ibrahima Camara, who returned to their national teams for the African Nations Cup, 27-year-old Matsui proved to be the stalwart of the Le Mans side.

Lyon lacked fire in their forward line with star striker Karim Benzema thwarted at every turn by the hosts as he lacked the support of his strike partners Milan Baros while Brazilian international Fred appeared for 10 minutes in what is likely to be his last appearance for the French side before a move to an English Premiership side.

Apart from solo attacks from Benzema, Lyon's best chance was a Juninho freekick three minutes before the break which was cleared by Jean Clave.

Le Mans' victory gives them a lift after they struggled to get past amateur side Selongey in the last round and a 2-0 loss at home to Sochaux at the weekend.