Pagis power leaves Lyon licking wounds
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Article summary
A Mickaël Pagis hat-trick consigned Olympique Lyonnais to their first defeat of the season as the Ligue 1 leaders suffered a heavy 3-0 loss at Stade Rennais FC, as AS Saint-Etienne overcame AS Monaco FC 2-0.
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Briand pace
Rennes went into Sunday's meeting stuck in mid-table and mourning the premature end to their UEFA Cup campaign in midweek, but they set about the seven-time champions with genuine intent and no fear. Former Olympique de Marseille striker Pagis got the ball rolling after converting a Moussa Sow cross at the near post on 17 minutes and the pace of Jimmy Briand caused the Lyon defence no end of problems before Pagis notched his second eleven minutes after the break, this time firing in from an Olivier Thomert cut-back. The 35-year-old then wrapped up a fully deserved win with a magnificent control and half-volley from 25 metres out, leaving goalkeeper Hugo Lloris no chance.
St-Etienne success
The win took Rennes up to seventh in the standings, but more importantly it leaves Lyon just two points clear of Toulouse FC at the top, with Marseille one point further back. Away from the upper reaches, meanwhile, St-Etienne ended their week in style after assuring themselves of a place in the UEFA Cup group stage on Thursday. Les Verts made it four consecutive games without a goal for Monaco after holding their visitors at bay, while at the other end Bafetimbi Gomis buried an eleventh-minute volley and Geoffrey Dernis added a second seven minutes from time. In the late game, eleventh-placed Paris Saint-Germain FC were held to a 1-1 draw at AS Nancy-Lorraine, despite Guillaume Hoarau's second-minute opener. Damian Macaluso equalised for the hosts, who dropped to 15th.
