Ligue 1 action round-up - Week 6 - September 19/20, 2009
Wednesday 23 September 2009
The sixth week of France’s Ligue 1 saw the newly promoted Montpellier finally lose a match this season as they came up against title hopefuls Marseille at the Stade Velodrome. The visitors had not conceded a first half goal all season but on 31 minutes Lucho Gonzalez broke this record with his first goal for the club and the lead was doubled two minutes later by Mamadou Niang. Gonzalez set up an opportunity late in the half which was duly converted by Edouard Cisse and six minutes after the break it was 4-0 courtesy of Souylemane Diawara. Montpellier salvaged some pride with two late goals coming from Younes Belhanda and a penalty from Souylemane Camara.
FC Sochaux hosted Valenciennes in an seven-goal thriller with five of those goals going to the visitors. The home team had taken the lead after just three minutes with the first chance of the game thanks to Jeremie Berchet only for Valenciennes to level matters on 24 minutes through Carlos Sanchez, however five minutes before half-time Sochaux were back in front after a goal from Boudebouz. The half-time team talk must have been a cracker as Valenciennes came out all guns blazing and Gregory Pujol equalized on 49 minutes before Johan Audel gave them the lead. Sochaux pushed for a leveller but went 4-2 down following a goal from Fahid Ben Khalfallah and then had striker Vaclav Sverkos sent off before Pujol rubbed salt in the wound with the fifth.
St Etienne were booed off the pitch after their 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Auxerre. They had taken the lead thanks to Gonzalo Ruben Bergessio but despite having further chances to score they did not add to their solitary goal and their wastefulness was punished when Kevin Lejeune eqaulised on 75 minutes. Monaco recorded a solid 3-1 away win at Nice with Nene scoring a penalty for the away side after just eight minutes before Alonso doubled the lead four minutes later. Loic Remy gave the home team hope just before the break with a goal but Monaco showed their class in the second half and scored the decisive third 19 minutes from time through Alonso. FC Lorient moved up to eighth after their 3-1 victory at home to Nancy - it took them until the 43rd minute to score through Sigamary Diarra and after the break Gameiro doubled the lead. Nancy threatened a comeback after Paul Alo’o Efoulou scored in stoppage time at the end of the match but there was still time for Lorient to grab a third from the penalty spot thanks to Olivier Monterrubio.
Rennes enjoyed their visit to bottom club Grenoble as they scored four in a comfortable 4-0 win with Asamoah Gyan scoring after just 22 seconds. It was 2-0 thanks to Sylvain Marveaux and on just 20 minutes Kader Magnane made it 3-0 - this sparked some angry scenes in from the home fans and flares were thrown onto the pitches. Gyan added a penalty on 60 minutes to wrap up the points and this too lead to a barrage of flares thrown on the pitch, as the referee was forced to take the players off the pitch and the match did not resume for 30 minutes. Upon their return the match passed on without incident and Grenoble became only the fourth team in Ligue 1 history to lose their first six games. Saturday’s final game saw leaders Bordeaux go two points clear at the summit with a convincing 2-0 win away at Boulogne. The champions' goals coming from Yoann Goufrann and and an own goal from Yoann Lachor.
The first of three games on Sunday saw Adil Rami score a last equalizer for Lille away to Lens. The home side had taken the lead through Abdoulrazak Boukari while Toulouse recorded a fine 2-0 win over Le Mans - the goals coming from Etienne Didot and Moussa Sissoko. The big match of the weekend saw PSG host Lyon and the hosts took the lead on 29 minutes through Ludovic Giuly but the Parisians could only hold on until the 85th minute before sub Bafetimbi Gomis grabbed a point and maintained Lyon’s unbeaten start.
Ligue 1 action round-ups
Week 1 - August 8/9, 2009
Week 2 - August 15/16, 2009
Week 3 - August 22/23, 2009
Week 4 - August 29/30, 2009
Week 5 - September 12/13, 2009
Week 6 - September 19/20, 2009
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