Ligue 1 wrap: Montpellier charge continues as Marseille fall

27 April 2012 23:15

Montpellier continued their unlikely run at the Ligue 1 title with a 1-0 win over Toulouse on Friday, while Marseille's horror run continued.

Younes Belhanda struck the only goal for Montpellier inside three minutes with a fine finish, before Olivier Giroud missed a penalty in the second half against an enterprising, yet wasteful Toulouse side.

The visitors, who were hoping to build their lead with the knowledge that challengers Paris Saint-Germain would face incumbent champions Lille on Sunday, immediately set about asserting their authority at the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse, and were rewarded inside three minutes.

Belhanda found space to deliver a fine shot past Ali Ahamada at his near post for his 11th league goal of an already stellar campaign.

It could have been better for Rene Girard's men, who moments later saw Marco Estrada's free-kick narrowly escape the bar, before a speculative Giroud header from an unassuming Belhanda cross almost deceived the goalkeeper.

In the second period, Toulouse would suffer yet another blow. A free-kick from the left by Estrada was judged to be handled by Franck Tabanou, with the linesman signalling for a penalty.

Up stepped Giroud, whose rather tame penalty was saved by Ahamada on the hour to deny what would have been a certain victory for the visitors.

The miss did not come back to haunt them though, with Montpellier moving five points clear at the top ahead of PSG's trip to Lille on Sunday.

Elsewhere on Friday, Marseille's shocking form in the league continued as they went down 2-1 away to Lorient.

Despite winning the Coupe de la Ligue earlier this month, Marseille have not tasted victory in the league since January 30, their winless run now stretching to 13 matches after yet another defeat.

Arnold Mvuemba scored the opener for Lorient from the penalty spot four minutes before half time, and when Kevin Monnet-Paquet grabbed a second soon after the restart, things were looking dire for Didier Deschamps' side.

Mathieu Valbuena did manage to pull one back for the visitors on 78 minutes, but they would get no closer , Lorient claiming win ad moving within three points of 10th-placed Marseille.