Lyon go top of Ligue 1 as Monaco suffer first defeat

Five teams level on 14 points; Paris FC edge Rennes 4-3 despite Lepaul penalty hat-trick

PARIS: Ten-man Lyon held on for a 2-1 comeback win over Nice to go top of Ligue 1 on Sunday, as previous leaders Monaco lost for the first time this season. Five teams are level on 14 points at the top of the table, with Lyon ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Paris FC, Lille and Monaco on goal difference. Lyon visit PSG next weekend.

“It’s good to be top but it’s not the most important thing,” said Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca. “But having 14 points is very positive. Of course, that gives us confidence and greater responsibilities, but at this stage of the season it changes nothing.”

It was a close-run thing for Lyon, who played in front of local boy and French cycling prodigy Paul Seixas, after Keito Nakamura was sent off with 20 minutes left. Forward Elye Wahi, who opened the scoring for Nice after 18 minutes with his second goal of the season, had an injury-time equalizer ruled out by a razor-thin offside call. Lyon turned the game around before half-time with two goals in three minutes: Pavel Sulc prodded home a rebound to equalize, and Tanner Tessmann headed them in front. Veteran Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel headed against the bar early in the second half, while Wahi hit the post with a close-range header shortly after Nakamura was sent off for a high boot.

Noah Cadiou’s second-half penalty for Lorient stopped Monaco returning to the top of Ligue 1, as the principality club lost 1-0 in Brittany. Wing back Dembo Sylla won the penalty on the hour at the Stade du Moustoir when he was brought down by Monaco captain Denis Zakaria. Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky dived the right way, but Cadiou placed his kick in the corner to hand Monaco their first league defeat of the season.

Paris FC joined the leading group as Lassine Sinayoko’s injury-time penalty gave them a 4-3 win over Rennes, despite a hat-trick of penalties from Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul. Maxime Lopez twice put the hosts ahead, only for Lepaul, who won his first France cap during the recent international break, to equalize from the spot each time. Sinayoko looked to have won it for Paris FC 14 minutes from time with a stunning bicycle kick, but Brazilian substitute Otavio’s clumsy handball gave Lepaul the chance to level a third time. Sinayoko had the last word, drilling home his penalty after VAR punished Valentin Rongier’s shirt pull on the Mali forward. Rennes are a point behind the leading five.

Marseille picked up a much-needed 5-2 win over Angers to pull away from the relegation zone. Lilian Raolisoa gave Angers the lead, but Marseille replied before half-time through Himad Abdelli and Nouhoum Kamissoko. Amine Gouiri scored his fifth goal of the season, tucking home the rebound after Anthony Lopes saved his penalty. Amine El Ouazzani pulled one back for Angers from the spot, but late goals from Amine Harit and Igor Paixao sealed only Marseille’s third win in seven league matches. Bruno Genesio’s side had started the weekend above the relegation play-off spot only on goal difference, and have also lost their first two Europa League games.

Winless Le Havre remain bottom of the table after Cameroon forward Danny Namaso scored twice to give Auxerre a 3-1 win in Normandy, putting daylight between Auxerre and the relegation zone. — AFP