SPORTS

French League: Lyon go top with win

August 30, 2009 15:34 IST

A 25-metre half-volley from Miohel Bastos helped Olympique Lyon defeat AS Nancy 3-1 to grab top spot in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Lyon have 10 points from four games, one ahead of champions Girondins Bordeaux who travel to Olympique Marseille on Sunday.

Bafetimbi Gomis put the home team in front in the 38th minute before Argentina striker Lisandro Lopez made it 2-0 in the 50th.

Nancy, who scored seven goals in their first two league games of the season, pulled one back through Morocco striker Youssouf Hadji and the visitors were pushing hard for an equaliser when Bastos struck in the 68th minute.

"It was one of my best goals because it was a perfectly balanced shot," said Lyon's new Brazilian striker.

Elsewhere, promoted Montpellier climbed to third place on eight points thanks to a 3-0 win at Nice in a game halted for 20 minutes in the second half when fans threw fireworks on the pitch.

Referee Laurent Duhamel only allowed the match to restart when the spectators involved were ejected from the ground.

Nice ended the game with 10 men after Nigerian central defender Onyekachi Apam received a second yellow card for a late tackle on Lilian Compan nine minutes from time.

Another promoted club, Racing Lens, are on seven points after a 2-2 home draw with Stade Rennes.

Lens defender Marco Ramos and Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila were sent off.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email