Late drama leaves Montpellier in charge
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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Karim Aït-Fana left it late to earn Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier Hérault SC a 1-0 win against LOSC Lille Métropole that kept them three points clear of challengers Paris Saint-Germain FC.
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Karim Aït-Fana struck what could prove a priceless goal as his added-time effort earned Montpellier Hérault SC a 1-0 home win against LOSC Lille Métropole that kept the Ligue 1 leaders three points clear of Paris Saint-Germain FC with one match remaining.
On top but unable to find a way past the defending champions, Montpellier had to wait until the fourth minute of added time to make their breakthrough, Olivier Giroud collecting a through ball, holding off Aurélien Chedjou and setting up Aït-Fana for the winner.
With PSG beating Stade Rennais FC 3-0 courtesy of a Nenê hat-trick, that kept Montpellier in the driving seat ahead of their trip to AJ Auxerre next Sunday – their upcoming opponents now relegated following a 3-0 loss at Olympique de Marseille.
Elsewhere in the lower reaches, second-bottom Dijon FCO drew 1-1 with Toulouse FC and lie two points from safety, while AC Ajaccio dropped into the bottom three following their 1-1 stalemate with fourth-placed Olympique Lyonnais. Also on 38 points with Ajaccio, SM Caen lost 3-1 to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and Stade Brestois beat Valenciennes FC 1-0.
In Sunday's other games, FC Girondins de Bordeaux overcame FC Lorient 1-0 to move fifth, with AS Saint-Étienne succumbing 3-2 at AS Nancy-Lorraine, and the match between OGC Nice and Évian Thonon Gaillard FC ended 1-1.