Lille reclaim top spot, Lorient end Monaco’s winning streak

PARIS: Lille returned to the top of Ligue 1 despite a 0-0 draw at home to Brest on Sunday, while Wissam Ben Yedder scored an injury-time equaliser for Monaco as their seven-game winning run was ended by a resurgent Lorient.

Christophe Galtier’s Lille failed to register a single shot on target as they dropped points for the first time in seven matches, moving back one clear of Paris Saint-germain at the summit.

Canadainternationaljonathandavidhadagoal disallowed for Lille in the second half following a handball in the build-up by centre-back Jose Fonte.

“It’s disappointing not to have won, but my disappointment is minimal when I see what we did going forward. It wasn’t enough,” said Galtier.

“We had an incredible opportunity with other results going our way and you need more character and personality in this type of match.”

Ben Yedder neted twice for Monaco in a 2-2 draw as Lorient became the first team to take a point off Niko Kovac’s side in the new year.

Nigerian striker Terem Moffi converted a penalty to give Lorient the lead on seven minutes at the Stade Louis II ater Monaco goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte brought down Yoane Wissa.

France striker Ben Yedder levelled from the spot early in the second half ater a handball in the area, but Moffi put Lorient back in front on the hour with a composed finish ater a loose pass from Djibril Sidibe.

The visitors looked on course for a fourth win in five outings only for Ben Yedder to hammer in a volley deep into stoppage time, for his 13th goal of the season.

“We earned a point. We didn’t play as well as we have been. But that’s part of the process. It’s good to take a point in these conditions,” said Kovac.

“It could be important at the end of the season. Never give up, never throw in the towel, that’s what I want. This point reflects the team’s DNA.”

Monaco are fourth and six points back of leaders Lille, while PSG are second following Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Nice. Lyon dropped to third ater losing at home to Montpellier by the same scoreline.

Crisis-hit Marseille held out for over half an hour with only nine men to secure a goalless draw against toothless Bordeaux.

OM, without a league win since January 6, had claimed a morale-boosting French Cup victory in midweek against Auxerre, their first success under stand-in coach Nasser Larguet.

Any hopes of another win were ended in the space of five second-half minutes.

Argentinian defender Leonardo Balerdi was dismissed in the 55th minute for cynically pulling back Remi Oudin, before striker Dario Benedeto received his marching orders for a horrendous tackle on Laurent Koscielny.