Montpellier Herault reclaimed the Ligue 1 lead with a 3-1 win over AC Ajaccio on Wednesday as Olympique Lyonnais fell 1-0 at Stade Malherbe Caen for their first loss of the season.
Lyon had climbed atop the standings last weekend, but they lost their status as the only undefeated team in the league after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was sent off for bringing down Romain Hamouma just before halftime and midfielder Benjamin Nivet converted the ensuing penalty.
Montpellier took full advantage, going up 2-0 at Ajaccio after just nine minutes when winger Remy Cabella headed home the opener and Chile midfielder Marco Estrada doubled the lead direct from a corner kick.
Nigerian forward John Utaka added the third with a low shot in the 35th minute, before Mehdi Mostefa pulled one back for Ajaccio with a header in the 53rd minute.
Montpellier have a two-point cushion over Stade Rennais, Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse, who wasted a chance to go level on 16 points by drawing 1-1 at AS Saint-Etienne.
Struggling Olympique de Marseille earned their first win in the league this season by beating promoted Evian Thonon Gaillard 2-0 to move out of the relegation zone.
Paris Saint-Germain needed a 71st-minute penalty by Kevin Gameiro to secure their 2-1 win against OGC Nice, after a handball from midfielder Fabrice Abriel.
In Lorient, Innocent Emeghara converted a rebound in the 23rd minute after AJ Auxerre goalkeeper Olivier Sorin had parried a long-range drive from Alaixys Romao. Auxerre forward Dennis Oliech equalized to make it 1-1 with a powerful strike in the 62nd minute.
Sochaux-Montbeliard were routed 6-2 by Stade Rennais despite equalizing twice.
Dijon FCO forward Christophe Mandanne converted a penalty in the 33rd minute to give the hosts a 1-0 victory, after Stade Brestois 29 defender Santiago Gentiletti was sent off for tripping Gregory Thil.
AS Nancy-Lorraine forward Benjamin Moukandjo scored for the hosts in the 15th minute with an assist from Jordan Loties, but Valenciennes equalized with a goal from Renaud Cohade in the 82nd minute.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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