Lyon and Rennes leave it late
Saturday, August 13, 2011
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Olympique Lyonnais needed a late equaliser to prevent a Ligue 1 defeat by AC Ajaccio and Stade Rennais FC denied Paris Saint-Germain FC at the death on Saturday.
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None of France's midweek European play-off contenders won on Saturday and Olympique Lyonnais were particularly grateful to even secure a point.
Hoping to follow up their opening 3-1 success at OGC Nice, Lyon trailed AC Ajaccio after a Frédéric Sammaritano goal just before the hour. But Lisandro equalised with seven minutes left to secure a 1-1 draw ahead of Lyon's home UEFA Champions League play-off first leg with FC Rubin Kazan on Tuesday.
Paris Saint-Germain FC's summer spending could not prevent a home defeat by FC Lorient last weekend but it was a close-season arrival from that very club, Kevin Gameiro, who struck with 17 minutes remaining against fellow UEFA Europa League contenders Stade Rennais FC. However Rennes, who won 5-1 against Dijon FCO last Sunday, secured a draw with two minutes to go through Jonathan Pitroipa.
The third UEFA Europa League hopefuls FC Sochaux-Montbéliard fell 2-1 at home to SM Caen, one of only three teams to move on to six points on Saturday. The others were AS Saint-Étienne, thanks to a late 1-0 winner against AS Nancy-Lorraine, and Toulouse FC, defeating Dijon 2-0. Montpellier Hérault FC can emulate them on Sunday when they visit champions LOSC Lille Métropole.