At a sell-out Stade de France, veteran coach Guy Roux's side came from behind to win 2-1 against PSG for whom the Cup was their only salvation after a season laced with mediocrity.

While PSG coach Luis Fernandez quits his post in unhappy circumstances having finished just 11th in the French league, the result was another vindication of the talents of 64-year-old Roux.

"It was a superb victory for Auxerre which is a great football family," said the man who joined Auxerre way back in 1961 and who has now led them to three Cup wins.

He added: "We completely messed up the first half and the score at the break was completely fair.

"We dominated virtually the whole of the second half however and managed to turn the score around."

PSG it was though who were flying high after Hugo Leal's 20th minute half volley had put the French capital side in the driving seat.

The goal was set up by Ronaldhino who crossed from the left, Auxerre defender Boumsong's clearance falling at the 23-year-old Hugo Leal's waiting feet.

The goal was rough justice for Auxerre keeper Fabien Cool who a minute earlier had pushed a dangerous shot from Jerome Leroy over the cross bar.

Cisse, who is angling for a move to Anfield to link up with Michael Owen on the Liverpool attack, was in his usual dazzling form, his pinpoint passing and pace an ever present threat to the PSG defence.

Although a badly off-target, 20-metre freekick was not a proper advertisement of his talents around the half hour mark.

Hugo Leal found himslef turning from hero to villain when he was sent off with 25 minutes left for a high tackle on Philippe Mexes, referee Bertrand Layec having to calm down a posse of PSG players livid at his decision.

Zimbabwean striker Benjamin Mwaruwari entered the picture as a substitute in place of Amdy Faye as Roux sought to strengthen his forward line so as to exploit his team's numerical advantage.

Then up popped Cisse with the equaliser 15 minutes from time, the 21-year-old French international volleying home a high ball from Johan Radet which had escaped the clutches of PSG defender Gabriel Heinze.

Ronaldhino attempted to restore PSG's lead wth a Beckham-like freekick which was dealt with smoothly enough by Cool, who pushed the ball wide of the right post.

As extra time beckoned, Fernandez must have been praying for a touch of Brazilian magic from Ronaldhino but the magic was to come instead from Auxerre's Boumsong.

With two minutes of normal time left, Auxerre piled on the pressure in the PSG goalmouth. A header from Boumsong was punched away but when the ball fell to him a second time he duly converted.

A miserable night then for PSG who will be hoping for a change of fortune when new coach Vahid Halilhodzic takes over from Fernandez.

For Roux however it was the latest chapter in an extraordinary career.