Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille held to draw, Lyon climb

Marseille missed a chance to close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Lille with a 2-2 draw at home to Toulouse on Sunday.

The defending champions Marseille were presented with an opportunity to close within one point of Lille after the first-placed side suffered a rare defeat on Saturday, 1-0 away to Monaco.

And Marseille were on target to take full advantage after leading through a goal from striker Loic Remy 31 minutes into the match at the Stade Velodrome.

But Norwegian winger Daniel Braaten leveled in first-half injury time for Toulouse and the visitors were in front when defender Mauro Cetto struck just after the hour mark.

The mid-table side appeared on course for an upset away win before striker Andre Pierre Gignac equalised for the hosts with five minutes to go.

Marseille remain second following the draw, three points behind Lille.

In the late kick-off, Lyon defeated Lens 3-0 at home to move third, just two points behind Marseille.

All the goals came in the second half at the Stade Gerland, with a 56th-minute own goal from Henri Bedimo putting Lyon ahead, before Jimmy Briand made it 2-0 five minutes later.

Argentina centre-forward Lisandro Lopez completed the scoring in the 91st minute.

Defeat leaves Lens second bottom, seven points off safety.

In other matches, Montpellier led at home to Nice through a 44th-minute effort from Geoffrey Dernis.

Nigeria international John Utaka missed a penalty to put the hosts 2-0 ahead and Nice made them pay, with Francois Clerc leveling on 73 minutes to earn a share of the spoils.

The draw leaves Montpellier sixth, with Nice 14th – just two points above the relegation zone.

Sun 10 April, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille held to draw, Lyon climb

Marseille missed a chance to close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Lille with a 2-2 draw at home to Toulouse on Sunday.

The defending champions Marseille were presented with an opportunity to close within one point of Lille after the first-placed side suffered a rare defeat on Saturday, 1-0 away to Monaco.

And Marseille were on target to take full advantage after leading through a goal from striker Loic Remy 31 minutes into the match at the Stade Velodrome.

But Norwegian winger Daniel Braaten leveled in first-half injury time for Toulouse and the visitors were in front when defender Mauro Cetto struck just after the hour mark.

The mid-table side appeared on course for an upset away win before striker Andre Pierre Gignac equalised for the hosts with five minutes to go.

Marseille remain second following the draw, three points behind Lille.

In the late kick-off, Lyon defeated Lens 3-0 at home to move third, just two points behind Marseille.

All the goals came in the second half at the Stade Gerland, with a 56th-minute own goal from Henri Bedimo putting Lyon ahead, before Jimmy Briand made it 2-0 five minutes later.

Argentina centre-forward Lisandro Lopez completed the scoring in the 91st minute.

Defeat leaves Lens second bottom, seven points off safety.

In other matches, Montpellier led at home to Nice through a 44th-minute effort from Geoffrey Dernis.

Nigeria international John Utaka missed a penalty to put the hosts 2-0 ahead and Nice made them pay, with Francois Clerc leveling on 73 minutes to earn a share of the spoils.

The draw leaves Montpellier sixth, with Nice 14th – just two points above the relegation zone.

Sun 10 April, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille close gap on Lille, Nancy climb

Marseille kept in touch with Ligue 1 leaders Lille with victory over PSG on Sunday, while Nancy climbed the standings after beating Monaco.

Didier Deschamps’ Marseille claimed the scalp of fellow title contenders PSG with a 2-1 victory at the Stade Velodrome that saw them close the gap to Lille to four points.

Gabriel Heinze gave the home side the ideal start, firing home a 16th minute free kick.

Clement Chantome levelled proceedings in the 28th minute, only for Marseille to reply seven minutes later through what would prove to be the winning goal from Andre Ayew.

Nancy eased their relegation concerns with a 19th minute Andre Luiz header giving them a second successive league win, this time at the expense of fellow strugglers Monaco.

The result saw Pablo Correa’s men climb to 14th on the league standings with 35 points, six clear of the first relegation place which is currently occupied by Monaco.

Caen also stepped up their fight to avoid the drop with a 2-0 win over Arles helping them to 13th on the table.

Yohan Mollo and Youssef El Arabi netted late strikes to seal the three points for Franck Dumas’ side.

Mon 21 March, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille close gap on Lille, Nancy climb

Marseille kept in touch with Ligue 1 leaders Lille with victory over PSG on Sunday, while Nancy climbed the standings after beating Monaco.

Didier Deschamps’ Marseille claimed the scalp of fellow title contenders PSG with a 2-1 victory at the Stade Velodrome that saw them close the gap to Lille to four points.

Gabriel Heinze gave the home side the ideal start, firing home a 16th minute free kick.

Clement Chantome levelled proceedings in the 28th minute, only for Marseille to reply seven minutes later through what would prove to be the winning goal from Andre Ayew.

Nancy eased their relegation concerns with a 19th minute Andre Luiz header giving them a second successive league win, this time at the expense of fellow strugglers Monaco.

The result saw Pablo Correa’s men climb to 14th on the league standings with 35 points, six clear of the first relegation place which is currently occupied by Monaco.

Caen also stepped up their fight to avoid the drop with a 2-0 win over Arles helping them to 13th on the table.

Yohan Mollo and Youssef El Arabi netted late strikes to seal the three points for Franck Dumas’ side.

Mon 21 March, 2011

SPL wrap: Hibs hasten Hamilton plight, Dundee climb

Hamilton Academicals inched closer to relegation from the Scottish Premier League following a 2-1 loss at home to Hibernian on Tuesday.

Akpo Sodje opened the scoring for visitors Hibs in the 37th minute at New Douglas Park.

David Wotherspoon fed on-loan Celtic fullback Richie Towell, who held off an opponent before cutting back for Sodje to slot home from inside the area.

Sodje had a hand in the second, drawing two men toward the ball before playing in Wotherspoon, who picked out Derek Riordan.

A first-time finish from the Scotland forward made it 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining.

Flavio Paixao pulled one back three-and-a-half minutes into stoppage time, but it proved too late for the hosts to mount a comeback.

The win lifts Hibs up to eight in the table.

Hamilton are now seven points from safety with six matches left to play.

Dundee United climbed into the top six with a 2-0 win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Substitute Prince Buaben broke the deadlock at the Caledonian Stadium just seconds after coming on for visitors Dundee.

Played in by David Goodwillie, the Ghana central midfielder side-footed home from 10 yards out.

Irishman Adam Rooney might have equalised for Inverness, but he headed over from Richie Foran’s cross.

It was another substitute, David Robertson, who secured the win for Dundee.

This time Buaben turned provider, setting up attacking midfielder Robertson to strike home from 18 yards.

The win takes Dundee above Inverness and into sixth.

They are a point ahead of their beaten hosts and also have three games in hand.

Wed 2 March, 2011