France round-up: Lens stretch clear
Tuesday, December 18, 2001
Article summary
RC Lens stretched their lead in the French first division to five points on Tuesday.
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Olembe sent off
Lens moved up a gear after a goalless first half, midfield player Antoine Sibierski, striker Lamine Sakho and substitute Matthieu Bucher scoring the goals. Nantes had midfield player Salomon Olembe sent off in the 36th minute for a second bookable offence.
Five clear of Lyon
Sibierski volleyed home from a cross by Eric Sikora in the 47th minute, Sakho made it two from the penalty spot in the 52nd and Bucher added the third ten minutes from time. Lens, with 38 points from 18 matches, are now five-points clear of second-placed Olympique Lyonnais, who are away to lowly CS Sedan-Ardennes on Wednesday.
Nantes sit bottom
For Nantes, who sit bottom of the table with 13 points, this was their fifth consecutive defeat, including reverses against SC Bastia in the French Cup and FC Porto and FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League.
Frozen pitch
