04/04/26 02:38:00
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04/04 14:36 CDT Strasbourg beats Nice in Ligue 1 and extends its unbeaten run
to 10 matches
Strasbourg beats Nice in Ligue 1 and extends its unbeaten run to 10 matches
PARIS (AP) --- Without its top striker, Strasbourg extended its unbeaten run in
all competitions to 10 matches with a 3-1 win over Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Joaqun Panichelli tore his right ACL while training with Argentina last week
and underwent surgery on Thursday. He will miss the World Cup and maybe the
start of next season, too. Panichelli leads the French league with 16 goals.
In his absence, winger Martial Godo and Samir El-Mourabet delighted the home
fans to keep eighth-placed Strasbourg in contention for a European spot.
Godo hit the crossbar after 24 minutes and broke the deadlock soon after with
another header into the far corner. They went into halftime 3-0 ahead after
scores from midfielders Julio Enciso and El-Mourabet, the latter striking a
beautiful half-volley from outside the box.
After dribbling past the Nice goalkeeper to make it 2-0, Enciso put on a jersey
emblazoned with the name Panichelli before celebrating his goal in front of the
Strasbourg fans.
More good news for Strasbourg was the sight of captain Emanuel Emegha, who will
join Chelsea next season, returning from a four-month injury layoff when he
went on in the 77th.
Defender Antoine Mendy pulled one back in the 82nd for Nice, which slumped to a
15th defeat. Strasbourg and Nice will face off again in the French Cup
semifinals on April 22.
Leader Paris Saint-Germain increased its lead to four points on Friday after
Ousmane Dembl scored twice in a 3-1 win against Toulouse. The game was
brought forward to give PSG more recovery time ahead of next Wednesday's
Champions League quarterfinal with Liverpool.
The result lifted PSG four points clear of Lens, which travelled to
fifth-placed Lille later Saturday for the Derby du Nord.
7-goal thriller in Brittany
Rennes won a spectacular encounter at Brest 4-3. Esteban Lepaul scored twice
from the penalty spot including the winner.
The visitors came from behind after Junior Dina Ebimbe also had a brace for
Brest.
Lepaul netted the winner from the spot in the 74th. Goalkeeper Grgoire Coudert
dived the right way but couldn't get enough touch to stop the strike.
Rennes rose to sixth place, just two points behind third-placed Marseille.
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