Lorient leave Marseille hopes hanging by a thread
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Article summary
Olympique de Marseille stumbled again in their quest to retain the Ligue 1 title as they could only draw 2-2 at FC Lorient, a result which played into the hands of leaders LOSC Lille Métropole.
Article top media content
Article body
Olympique de Marseille's chances of retaining their Ligue 1 title suffered a major blow as they came away from FC Lorient with a 2-2 draw.
Loïc Rémy gave the champions the perfect start with an unstoppable shot on 14 minutes, but Lamine Kone levelled shortly after the break and Kevin Gameiro (79) put the hosts ahead with his 21st effort this season. André-Pierre Gignac salvaged OM a draw two minutes from time, but Didier Deschamps's men now trail leaders LOSC Lille Métropole by three points and have just two games to go compared with their rivals' three.
In fifth, Stade Rennais FC revived their UEFA Champions League qualifying prospects by prevailing 2-1 at AS Saint-Étienne for their first success in ten league outings. Jérôme Leroy hit the 43rd-minute winner to move Rennes within three points of third-placed Olympique Lyonnais.
Elsewhere, RC Lens were relegated to the second tier after they could only draw 1-1 at fellow strugglers AS Monaco FC. Victory alone would have saved the northern club, who nonetheless dropped Monaco into the bottom three.
AS Nancy-Lorraine moved in the other direction after they saw off ten-man OGC Nice 3-0 and SM Caen climbed three points clear of the drop zone courtesy of their 2-0 home triumph against Montpellier Hérault SC. Already down, AC Arles-Avignon claimed only their second win of the season by edging Toulouse FC 1-0 and Valenciennes FC drew 1-1 with AJ Auxerre.
