Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

O&N HOME | NFL MLB NBA NHL NCAAF NCAABk Nascar Golf Soccer Tennis Boxing Horse Racing All Sports

SOCCER-FRANCE Home | Live Odds | Scoreboard | Standings |

Montpellier fails to join Bordeaux at top

Sat 20th, February 2010

Saint Etienne, France (Sports Network) - Montpellier missed an opportunity to join Ligue 1 leaders Bordeaux at the top of the table as they dropped a 1-0 contest at St Etienne on Saturday.

Bordeaux's game with Auxerre was postponed to give the French champions additional time to prepare for their Champions League Round of 16 contest with Olympiacos on Tuesday, meaning that Montpellier had the chance to move level on 51 points with the win.

However, Emmanuel Riviere's goal 11 minutes from time put an end to Montpellier's five-game win streak, while moving St Etienne six points clear of the bottom three.

Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren was called into action after 10 minutes when he needed to save Dimitri Payet's volley, while a header from Gonzalo Bergessio late in the first half was also kept out.

The visitors best chance in the first half came from Victor Montano, who went close with a good look at goal.

Montano caused problems for the St Etienne defense after the break as he forced two good saves from goalkeeper Jeremie Janot, who then watched his team take the lead 11 minutes from time as Blaise Matuidi's cross was nodded home at the near post by Riviere.

Payet could have added a second goal in stoppage time when he tested Jourdren, but the keeper was up to the task.

Boulogne dropped 10 points from safety as they lost 3-1 to Le Mans, Valenciennes slipped past last-placed Grenoble, 1-0, Lens moved further from the drop zone with a 3-0 triumph over Monaco, Loic Remy's penalty kick in the second half gave Nice a 1-0 win over Lorient and PSG defeated 10-man Toulouse, 1-0, with Guillaume Hoarau scoring the lone goal from the penalty spot.