Brazilian striker Brandao’s second goal in as many games helped AS Saint-Etienne win 2-0 at SC Bastia and move provisionally into third place ahead of LOSC Lille Metropole in the French league on Saturday.
Lille needed only to draw against sixth-place Olympique Lyonnais yesterday to reclaim third spot.
After scoring a last-minute equalizer against Marseille last weekend, Brandao turned in Yohan Mollo’s corner from the left in the 33rd minute, and an injury-time own-goal from defender Fethi Harek sealed the win.
Fifth-place Olympique de Marseille beat Lorient 1-0 to keep the pressure on in the hunt for a Champions League place.
Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac boosted his chances of a France recall with the late winner.
Elsewhere, forward Henri Saivet’s late goal moved Girondins de Bordeaux into eighth place after a 2-1 home win against struggling Evian Thonon Gaillard, while wingers Remy Cabella and Anthony Mounier scored Montpellier Herault’s goals in a 2-0 win against last-place AC Ajaccio.
Striker Mustapha Yatabare’s goal three minutes into injury time gave En Avant de Guingamp a 1-0 win against OGC Nice.
In a relegation battle pitting 18th against 19th, two goals from Ghana forward Majeed Waris looked to have sealed a win for Valenciennes.
However, defender Florian Marange rescued a point for Sochaux-Montbeliard in the 88th, with the visitors’ other goal coming from right back Sebastien Corchia.
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