02/07/26 04:22:00
Printable Page
02/07 16:21 CST Ruben Aguilar scores and gets sent off as Lens defeats Rennes
3-1 to move top of Ligue 1
Ruben Aguilar scores and gets sent off as Lens defeats Rennes 3-1 to move top
of Ligue 1
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Defender Ruben Aguilar was sent off moments after scoring his
team's second goal as Lens rallied to beat Rennes 3-1 to go top of Ligue 1 on
Saturday.
New signing Allan Saint-Maximin grabbed a superb third goal late on to help
Lens move one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain, which
plays bitter rival Marseille on Sunday.
France winger Florian Thauvin set up Aguilar for a close-range header with a
neat cross from the left in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, the scorer was
shown a second yellow card following a clumsy challenge from behind.
Despite being down to 10 men, Lens scored again in the 78th when goalkeeper
Robin Risser's long kick was expertly controlled by Saint-Maximin on the left
flank. He then beat two defenders while dribbling at speed before firing a
swerving shot into the corner and celebrating with a back summersault.
Saint-Maximin turns 29 next month. Twelve years ago he was considered a teenage
prodigy when he broke onto the scene with Saint-Etienne, but his career has not
matched expectations despite some bright spells at Nice and Newcastle in the
Premier League.
He moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, had an unhappy loan spell at Turkish
side Fenerbahce and then played briefly for Club Amrica in Mexico before
joining Lens at the end of the winter transfer window.
With Lens in contention for the league and French Cup double, he has a chance
to relaunch his career.
Forward Esteban Le Paul gave Rennes an early lead with a neat finish after
Arnaud Nordin spotted his clever run and played him in behind the left back.
Lens equalized near halftime when striker Odsonne douard latched onto a long
ball and held off a defender before shooting through goalkeeper Mathys
Silistrie's legs.
Rennes defender Jrmy Jacquet --- who is joining Premier League champion
Liverpool next season --- went off in the second half with a shoulder injury.
Lyon wins as Endrick sees red
Brazil forward Endrick was sent off in the second half of Lyon's 1-0 win at
struggling Nantes.
Lyon's 12th straight victory in all competitions was soured by a red card for
the 19-year-old Endrick, who is on loan from Real Madrid.
He was shown a yellow card after two minutes. Endrick was then shown a second
yellow --- upgraded to a straight red in the 61st following a video review ---
for kicking midfielder Dehmaine Tabibou's left ankle as the ball was going out.
The straight red means Endrick faces a suspension.
Goal-scoring midfielder Pavel Sulc netted midway through the first half,
turning in a shot from Afonso Moreira after Nantes failed to properly defend a
short corner.
The win moved Lyon into third place, meaning Marseille needs to beat PSG on
Sunday to reclaim third on goal difference.
Nantes hit the post three times and is languishing in 16th. That is the
promotion-relegation playoff position that will see a matchup with the side
finishing third in Ligue 2.
Also Saturday, forwards Rmy Labeau-Lascary and Ludovic Ajorque scored in the
second half as Brest beat mid-table Lorient 2-0 in a Brittany derby.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
|
