France round-up: Lachuer orchestrates Auxerre success

Two goals from playmaker Yann Lachuer helped AJ Auxerre to an emphatic 4-1 victory at FC Nantes Atlantique and the Ligue 1 leadership.

Comfortable win
Auxerre shrugged off the absence of Djibril Cissé to record a comfortable win and valuable morale boost ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match with Arsenal FC, the English league leaders.

Benjani opener
Mwaruwari Benjani opened the scoring midway through the first half - his sixth goal in as many games this season - before Arnaud Gonzalez and Lachuer seemingly put the game beyond the reach of Nantes.

Vahirua concussed
Romanian international gave Nantes a glimmer of hope in the 36th minute when he reduced arrears but Lachuer's second ten minutes from time made sure of the win. Nantes striker Marama Vahirua was taken to hospital with concussion after the game following an injury to the head.

Not nice
OGC Nice, who had been setting the pace, slumped to their first away defeat at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. A man down after midfield player Dominique Aulanier was sent off in the 67th minute, Nice finally bowed with five minutes left in the game to a goal scored by Fabien Boudarene.

Improved form
AS Monaco FC, who had won away at defending champions Olympique Lyonnais a week ago, confirmed their improving form with a 2-1 victory over Stade Rennais FC, the bottom club. The most exciting action of the day took place at CS Sedan-Ardennes, where the locals crushed promoted Le Havre AC 4-0, with two goals from Stéphane Noro.

Goalkeeping hero
But the real hero of the game was Le Havre goalkeeper Alexander Vencel who saved his team from an even worse fate as he stopped two penalties, while a promising northern derby between RC Lens and Lille OSC ended in a goalless draw. Montpellier Hérault SC's match against Paris Saint-Germain FC and  ES Troyes Aube Champagne's home fixture with Lyon both ended 1-1.

Laslandes on target
Goals from Florian Maurice and Lilian Laslandes helped SC Bastia to overcome FC Girondins de Bordeaux 2-1, Pauleta's 84th-minute strike not enough for Bordeaux. RC Strasbourg were also victorious, accounting for En Avant Guingamp 3-2 away.