The Merlus dominated the Parisian club (2-0) during the 16th day.
Lorient took the lead in Ligue 2 by bringing down Paris FC (2-0), who had been leader since the 7th day and undefeated for almost three months, on Saturday, in the shock of the 16th day. With this second consecutive victory, the eighth in a row at home, Olivier Pantaloni's men take a two-point lead (33) over the PFC, who lost for the first time since September 20 (2-1, in Bastia). Lorient is certain to retain this leading position at the end of the day, while the Parisian club will have to hope for a misstep from Metz (3rd), which travels to Annecy (5th) on Saturday evening, to avoid losing a additional position.
Despite a good start to the match from the Parisians, it was the Merlus who opened the scoring in the first quarter of an hour thanks to a flat-footed strike from Julien Ponceau, scorer for the second time this season. The 24-year-old midfielder was perfectly served full axis by Aiyegun Tosin, himself launched deep by captain Laurent Abergel after a high recovery. This is the first goal conceded in the league by the PFC since the 12th day and a 3-3 draw against Rodez on November 1. At the end of added time, Sambou Soumano put an end to the last hopes of the PFC, slim after the exclusion of Vincent Marchetti (83rd), by converting a penalty obtained by Darlin Yongwa.
Lorient multiplied the opportunities and for a long time stumbled on a good Obed Nkambadio, very well out on Tosin (31st). The Breton club even got scared, saved twice by Yvon Mvogo, with the tip of his foot in front of Nouha Dicko (74th) then against Jean-Philippe Krasso (80th). In addition to this first setback in L2 since the announcement of the takeover by the Arnault family, the PFC also recorded the exit due to injury in the second half of its striker Pierre-Yves Hamel, injured in the right leg.
In the other match of the afternoon, Red Star beat Grenoble 3-1 thanks to Hacene Benali (10th), Kemo Cissé (15th) and Joachim Eickmayer (31st). Pape Meïssa Ba scored Grenoble's first goal in six L2 matches. Grenoble midfielder Dante Rigo, injured in an ankle, was taken off on a stretcher in the first period. In the standings, the Ile-de-France residents are back on equal points with their opponent of the day (18 pts) and are moving away from the relegation zone.
France
