Marseille cut Lille's lead after St-Etienne scalp
Saturday, February 19, 2011
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Olympique de Marseille halved LOSC Lille Métropole's lead to three points with a 2-1 home victory against AS Saint-Étienne, as FC Lorient overcame FC Girondins de Bordeaux 5-1.
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Olympique de Marseille reduced LOSC Lille Métropole's Ligue 1 lead to three points with a 2-1 home victory against AS Saint-Étienne.
Lucho González broke the deadlock (68) with his first goal since 27 November before Loïc Remy (78) doubled the hosts' advantage. Christophe Landrin's added-time strike came too late to deny OM a third straight league success or dent confidence ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League visit of Manchester United FC.
The points came at a price, though, with strikers André-Pierre Gignac (groin), Brandão and Loïc Rémy (both ankle) being substituted because of injury. Didier Deschamps' team are a point ahead of Olympique Lyonnais, who overwhelmed AS Nancy-Lorraine 4-0 on Friday. Lille can restore their lead with a win against Montpellier Hérault SC on Sunday. Kevin Gameiro, meanwhile, hit a hat-trick as FC Lorient beat FC Girondins de Bordeaux 5-1.
Also victorious were Stade Brestois 29 and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, who overcame AS Monaco FC and RC Lens respectively. Jonathan Ayité struck twice (14, 89) to lift Brest up to seventh, a point behind St- Étienne, while Sochaux rallied after squandering a two-goal lead given to them by Nicolas Maurice-Belay (6) and Modibo Maiga (30). Ryad Boudebouz (66) grabbed the winner. Both sides had been down to ten men since the 42nd minute.
Elsewhere, AJ Auxerre and AC Arles-Avignon (1-1) and SM Caen and Valenciennes FC (2-2) shared draws.