Ben Arfa leads Nice to win, misery for Marseille
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| AFP |
Hatem Ben Arfa produced two moments of magic as nine-man Nice romped to a 4-1 victory away at Saint-Etienne, preventing their opponents from closing the gap on French Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Vincent Koziello had given Nice an early lead at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, but Loic Perrin soon equalised for Saint-Etienne, converting the rebound after a Fabien Lemoine shot crashed back off the bar.
That was when Ben Arfa intervened, volleying past Stephane Ruffier and into the far corner of the net to put the visitors back in front in the 39th minute. Even better was to come a minute prior to the interval as Ben Arfa, dribbled into the box past several challenges and dispatched a low shot across Ruffier.
Jean-Michael Seri put Nice further ahead following a counter-attack led by Valere Germain, before Nampalys Mendy and Maxime Le Marchand were both sent off in the final half-hour. The latter walked after conceding a penalty that was missed by Jean-Christophe Bahebeck as Nice claimed a third win in just over a week following a 3-1 victory at Bastia and a 6-1 thumping of Bordeaux. Nice are up to seventh while Saint-Etienne remain second, four points behind leaders and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who won 4-1 at Nantes on Saturday.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Marseille's dismal start to the season continued with a woeful 2-1 defeat at home to Ligue 1 newboys Angers on Sunday. Goals from Thomas Mangani, a penalty, and Romain Thomas had Marseille in deep trouble at the Stade Velodrome before Michy Batshuayi reduced the deficit 11 minutes from time, again from the spot. The result left Michel's struggling side down in the bottom half of the table, just four points above the relegation zone.
"We played very badly in the first half, that's not the way to start a match," said Michel. "We weren't in the match and were below par for many minutes. We lacked creativity and penetration. I can't explain it but we'll have to find a solution."
Angers continued their impressive return to the top flight after an absence of 21 years as they moved into fifth, but level on points with third-placed Rennes.
"Fifteen points after eight matches is crazy," said Angers coach Stephane Moulin. "We managed to play to our strengths, the strengths of our club, our generosity, collective discipline. We're not crazy, we know Marseille are better than us, individually and collectively, but in football little teams can make life difficult for the big ones."
Michel's team failed to muster a single shot on goal in the opening period despite dominating possession. But they were caught out when Remy Cabella gave away a penalty in bringing down Arnold Bouka Moutou and Mangani shot home high down the centre of the goal from 12 yards on 38 minutes. Marseille improved after the break, creating three chances in quick succession but Angers goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle saved the best of those with his feet from Bouna Sarr. Mangani set up the visitors' second 20 minutes from time with a free-kick that Thomas headed home.
Nine minutes later the hosts were given a lifeline as Ferebory Dore brought down Lucas Ocampos and Batshuayi despatched the spot-kick. There was still time for Marseille to snatch a point but Paolo De Ceglie, Ocampos, Batshuayi and Cabella all missed good chances.
Guingamp snatch late point
A fortuitous goal from Nicolas Benezet a minute from time denied Monaco victory as Guingamp snatched a 3-3 draw. Having won 3-2 at Montpellier on Thursday, Monaco looked on course for a second successive away victory but despite taking the lead three times in the match, through Bernardo Silva, Andrea Raggi and Nabil Dirar, the hosts pegged them back each time thanks to Slovan Privat and a Benezet brace. The result left Monaco eighth and Guingamp 13th.
Montpellier, the 2012 champions, got their first win of the season in 2-1 victory over mid-table Lorient. Jonas Martin hit the winner in the 57th minute after Lorient's Rafidine Abdullah had cancelled out Ramy Bensebaini's opener, although Montpellier remain in the bottom three.