Montpellier rolls over Lorient

Montpellier, France – Montpellier stretched its unbeaten 0 home victory over Lorient.

The win keeps Montpellier five points clear at the top of the league while Lorient remains in the middle of the table having lost three of its last five games.

Montpellier seized the lead after 25 minutes with a flicked header from Olivier Giroud finding Geoffrey Dernis in the center of the penalty area for a right-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Fabien Audard.

Giroud doubled the lead from close range for the hosts before he set up a goal for John Utaka in the 62nd minute and another for Remy Cabella four minutes from time to cap the scoring.

Lille 3, Ajaccio 2

Ajaccio, France - Lille kept pace at the top of the league with Montpellier as Eden Hazard's 80th-minute penalty kick gave the team a 3-2 win at Ajaccio on Saturday.

The first half saw the two sides split four goals between them as Ajaccio went in front in the second minute on an own goal from Aurelien Chedjou.

Lille struck back quickly with goals from Ludovic Obraniak and Marko Basa four minutes apart, only for Ilan to equalize for the home side shortly before halftime.

The match remained level until 10 minutes from time when Ajaccio's Jean- Baptiste Pierazzi fouled Florent Balmont inside the penalty area, allowing Hazard to convert his spot kick and extend Lille's unbeaten streak to 14 games in Ligue 1 play.

Ajaccio has lost six of its last seven and remains on the bottom of the league.

Brest 2, St Etienne 2

Brest, France - St Etienne claimed a 2-2 draw at Brest on Saturday courtesy of a late goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Brest entered the match unbeaten at home this season and took the lead after 22 minutes through Nolan Roux, who took a pass from Romain Poyet and fired a shot from the edge of the area past goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.

However, St Etienne hit back almost immediately with Aubameyang smashing a shot off the post and into the net.

Brest restored its lead a few minutes later as Roux found the back of the net for a second time by following up a shot from Poyet which was saved initially by Ruffier.

Mario Licka hit the post early in the second half for Brest, but St Etienne grabbed a late goal from Aubameyang as he was on hand to finish off a cross from Max Gradel.

Dijon 0, Sochaux 0

Dijon, France - Sochaux held on for a 0-0 draw at Dijon on Saturday as the visitors played the final 20 minutes of the match with 10 men.

Dijon had won its last two games after a four-game losing skid and nearly took the lead in third minute when a lob from Benjamin Corgnet sailed just over the crossbar.

Sochaux managed to generate a few chances of its own but was reduced to 10 men 20 minutes from time as Mathieu Peybernes brought down Brice Jovial as the Dijon man ran clear on goal.

However, the hosts were unable take advantage and had to settle for just one point.

Evian 2, Valenciennes 1

Annecy, France - Evian moved into the middle of the table on Saturday after securing a 2-1 win over 10-man Valenciennes at home.

It took 15 minutes for Valenciennes to be reduced to 10 men as Nicolas Isimat- Mirin was sent off for a poor challenge on Evian's Yannick Sagbo.

And within 20 minutes the home side went up 2-0 as Olivier Sorlin and Cedric Barbosa scored goals eight minutes apart.

Barbosa set up the opener for Sorlin after 25 minutes and he found the back of the net himself after some play with Sagbo.

The visitors pulled a goal back five minutes from time as Gael Danic converted a penalty kick, but it came too late for Valenciennes, which has won only one of its last six games.

Nice 2, Rennes 0

Nice, France - Nice snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday at home against Rennes, recording a 2-0 win which denies the visitors a chance to move into the top three.

Nice took the lead after 15 minutes with Benoit Costil of Rennes committing a foul inside his own penalty area which allowed Luciano Monzon to find the bottom corner of the net with his spot kick.

The lead was doubled 20 minutes later with Renato Civelli heading home a corner kick from Fabrice Abriel, while Rennes had any chance of comeback snuffed out in the opening minute of the second half as John Boye was sent off for a poor challenge on Anthony Mounier.