France round-up: Nice profit from Marseille defeat

Promoted OGC Nice picked up the thread of their dream start of the season today, as they returned to joint top of Le Championnat thanks to a 2-0 win against SC Bastia.

Late goals
With 20 points from ten games, Nice share the lead with AJ Auxerre, who entertain AS Monaco FC on Sunday. It took Nice until the 75th minute to break through the Bastia defence, Abdelmalek Cherrad scoring after a scramble in the penalty area. Kaba Diawara sealed the win twelve minutes later, meeting a cross from Thibault Scotto with a thumping volley.

Marseille miss out
After three consecutive wins, Olympique de Marseille missed an opportunity take over at the top of the table as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Lille OSC. The goals came from Hector Tapia, Philippe Brunel and Benoit Cheyrou in the 15th, 54th and 64th minutes.

Govou strikes for Lyon
On a high after their UEFA Champions League win at Internazionale FC on Wednesday, Olympique Lyonnais recorded their first away win of the season in the French league when they defeated Stade Rennais FC 1-0. However, the reigning champions had to work hard to subdue the Breton club, who are currently bottom of the table, and the winner came from a Sidney Govou shot which was deflected into the net by defender Lamine Diatta.

Lens win away
RC Lens lost all hope of qualifying for the Champions League second round last Tuesday at RC Deportivo La Coruña, but they recovered from that disappointment to clinch a 2-0 win at Montpellier Hérault SC. Their first goal came from Daniel Moreira, who darted through the defence before rounding goalkeeper Rudy Riou and tapping into the unguarded net. John Utaka scored the second two minutes from time. Lens are now fourth in the standings, level with Monaco, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and RC Strasbourg on 16 points. Lyon are eighth.

Home victory
Fabrice Ehret gave Strasbourg a 19th-minute lead over ES Troyes Aube Champagne, but Nicolas Goussé equalised for the visitors nine minutes later. However, Troyes had David Regis dismissed seven minutes before half-time, and Valerian Ismael scored the winning goal for Strasbourg four minutes into the second period.

Late drama
Elsewhere, Le Havre AC saw off Sochaux, thanks to a goal from Olivier Fauconnier four minutes after the half-time interval. AC Ajaccio had a late Bruno Rodriguez goal to thank for a 1-0 home win over FC Nantes Atlantique, as Sylvain Armand was sent off for the visitors in the closing stages.