Saint-Etienne beats Toulouse 2-0 to move away from trouble
Saint-Etienne moved away from the relegation zone and kept Toulouse in it after winning 2-0 in their French league game yesterday.
Slovenia striker Robert Beric returned for Saint-Etienne and scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot moments before halftime.
Toulouse carelessly gave the ball away near the halfway line for the second goal, scored by Senegalese midfielder Assane Diousse in the 86th minute.
Jonathan Bamba sprinted clear down the right and his cross was turned away by goalkeeper Alban Lafont into the path of Diousse, who coolly netted his first goal for Saint-Etienne.
The win moved Saint-Etienne up to 14th place. Toulouse is in 18th place — the relegation playoff spot — and the pressure is increasing on coach Pascal Dupraz.
Lyon wasted a chance to move up to second place in the French league after being held to a 1-1 home draw by relegation-threatened Angers yesterday.
Lyon needed an equaliser from top scorer Nabil Fekir to get back into the game. But by the end, Angers was hanging on after having midfielder Flavien Tait sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow card.
Lyon failed to capitalise and remains in third place. It is level on points with second-place Monaco — which has a better goal difference — and one ahead of Marseille in fourth.
It was a precious point for Angers, moving it up to 18th — the relegation playoff spot — and pushing Toulouse to 19th. Coppa Italia - Serie C Playoffs
Yesterday Cosenza-Trapani ............................. 1-0 Lecce-Matera .................................. 3-0
Yesterday St Etienne-Toulouse ......................... 2-0 Lyon-Angers ..................................... 1-1 Nantes-Paris SG ............................... 0-1
ITALY Standings
Paris SG Monaco Lyon Marseille Nantes Nice Guingamp Montpellier Dijon Rennes Strasbourg Caen Bordeaux St Etienne Lille Amiens Troyes Angers Toulouse Metz 20 17 20 13 20 12 20 12 20 10 20 9 20 8 20 6 20 7 20 7 20 6 20 7 20 6 20 6 20 6 20 6 20 6 20 3 20 5 20 3 2 1 59 15 53 3 4 46 19 42 6 2 47 21 42 5 3 41 22 41 3 7 18 19 33 3 8 25 29 30 5 7 23 24 29 9 5 17 13 27 4 9 29 34 25 4 9 24 29 25 6 8 24 33 24 3 10 12 22 24 5 9 23 29 23 5 9 20 33 23 4 10 18 30 22 3 11 16 22 21 3 11 20 28 21 10 7 22 30 19 4 11 18 29 19 3 14 14 35 12