Lille silence Lyon roar
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Article summary
French champions Olympique Lyonnais's unbeaten start to the season is ended by LOSC Lille Métropole but their nearest rivals failed to capitalise.
Article body
Olympique Lyonnais's unbeaten start to the season was finally ended on Friday night as the French champions succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat to LOSC Lille Métropole in Ligue 1 in their final match of 2005.
Run ended
Gérard Houllier's side, who had not lost in 23 league games since April, fell behind to Peter Odemwingie's goal after nine minutes and Mathieu Debuchy doubled Lille's lead in the 62nd minute. Sidney Govou pulled a goal back for the French champions six minutes later but Stephane Dumont's sealed the shock win for the visitors a further two minutes later.
Houllier hopeful
Houllier was not to disheartened after the match, saying: "We will learn from this. It does not change the fact that the team have improved a lot in every department."
Challengers slip up
However, the defeat did not to any major damage to Lyon's hopes of a fifth consecutive title as their three closest challengers failed to win in Friday's action. FC Girondins de Bordeaux moved into second place eleven points behind Lyon after a goalless draw at home to FC Nantes Atlantique, who had Aurélien Capouesent off in the dying minutes.
Auxerre defeat
AJ Auxerre dropped to third place after a disappointing defeat to struggling AS Nancy-Lorraine, for whom Mosef Zerka scored the only goal from the penalty spot after six minutes.
PSG held
And Paris Saint-Germain FC also failed to capitalise on Lyon's defeat as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at second bottom placed AJ Ajaccio. Bonaventure Kalou had looked to have sent PSG on the way to victory with his 42nd-minute headed goal but former PSG player Romain Rocchi equalised within two minutes for the Corsican side who had lost their previous four matches.
Strasbourg bottom
PSG's traditional rivals Olympique de Marseille moved up to fifth place just one point behind after Mamadou Niang scored a wonderful solo goal on the hour mark to sink his former club RCD Strasbourg in the battle of the UEFA Cup hopefuls. That results leaves Strasbourg at the bottom of the Ligue 1 standings at the winter break.
