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Lyon overcomes Le Mans to maintain 14-point advantage

Defending champion Lyon won 1-0 at Le Mans on Saturday, getting a second-half header from Sylvain Wiltord for its fourth straight victory and maintaining a 14-point advantage atop the French first division.

The victory was its 13th in 14 games and eighth in nine away from home, giving Lyon 43 points from 16 matches.

"Today we made a giant step toward the title," Lyon coach Gerard Houllier told Canal Plus television.

Wiltord's scored after a free kick by Brazilian playmaker Juninho in the 57th minute.

It was the first loss of the season at home for Le Mans, which saw its best chance punched away by Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet after James Fanchone slipped a through ball to Brazilian striker Grafite.

Lens kept pace, beating Bordeaux 3-0 at home to improve to 29 points.

Lens remained unbeaten through eight matches, but won only its fourth during that streak, with goals from Brazilian defender Vitorino Hilton in the 40th, Daniel Cousin in the 59th, and Tunisian forward Issam Jemaa in the 88th.

Saint-Etienne also kept pace, another two points back of Lens, going ahead on Czech midfielder Marek Heinz's free kick in the 51st and sealing the victory over Lorient with a goal by Frederic Piquionne in the 66th.

Rennes scored a goal in each half to keep Nantes winless on the road in eight games this season and leave it in 19th place with 12 points -- two ahead of last-place Sedan.

Dutch defender Mario Melchiot gave Rennes the lead in the 38th, heading in a cross and Bruno Cheyrou consolidated the victory with a volleyed goal in the 80th.

Monaco won its first in three games, beating Valenciennes on a long-range effort goal by Yaya Toure in the 37th and another two in the second half.

Toure set up Serge Gakpe in the 47th and Jan Koller added the finale in the 63rd.

Troyes ended a four-game winless streak and climbed one spot into 18th by beating Sedan. Georges Ba capitalized to put Troyes ahead when goalkeeper Patrick Regnault mis-hit his clearance attempt and Yann Lachuer collected the error and fed Ba.

After Sedan midfielder Morgan Amalfitano was sent off in the 67th, Gael Danic converted two minutes later, rising unmarked to head in a cross.

Gregory Pujol scored the only goal in the 70th for Sedan.
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