Sports

Rennes' perfect record ended with home defeat by Nice

September 01, 2019
Nice's Senegalese defender Racine Coly (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais and Nice, on Sunday at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, western France. — AFP
Nice's Senegalese defender Racine Coly (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais and Nice, on Sunday at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, western France. — AFP

PARIS — Rennes lost their 100 percent record in Ligue 1 on Sunday when visitors Nice came from behind to beat them 2-1 with a stoppage time goal by Racine Coly.

The only team to win their opening three games, Rennes dominated the first half and went ahead after 25 minutes when Gautier Lloris turned a Jeremy Morel header into his own net.

Nice, bought by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's company Ineos this week, leveled with a penalty in the 63rd minute, Wylan Cyprien scoring from the spot for the second game in a row after Youcef Atal was fouled by Hamari Traore.

Patrick Vieira's side then took all three points when Coly turned the ball in at the far post after a corner was headed on.

"It's a team of young players but I work with them every day and I see their concentration, their desire to learn," said Vieira. "They have determination, seriousness, they have been fantastic today."

The result left Paris St Germain, Rennes, Nice and Angers all level on nine points from four games with the Parisians leading on goal difference.

Reims converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review that took nearly five minutes on the way to a 2-0 win over 10-man Lille, last season's runners-up.

Reims forward Moussa Doumbia went down under a challenge from Lille captain Jose Fonte in the 68th but play continued and Lille broke down the other end and nearly scored themselves.

The video assistant referee then alerted match referee Eric Wattellier to the Doumbia incident and play was interrupted.

The pitchside monitor was not working so Wattellier had to rely on instructions from the VAR officials, based in Paris, as he finally awarded a penalty which Doumbia netted in the 73rd.

Remi Oudin added a second goal in the 90th with a free kick which appeared to be intended as a cross but which caught out goalkeeper Mike Maignan and flew into the net.

Lille, who played with 10 men from the 53rd minute after Yusuf Yazici was sent off, then squandered a chance to pull a goal back when Jonathan Bamba's penalty was saved by Predrag Rajkovic, who turned the ball onto the post.

Islam Slimani's brace was not enough to give Monaco their first win of the season as the 2017 champions twice let the lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Strasbourg, leaving them 19th in the 20-team table with two points.

Slimani ran onto a cross from Gelson Martins to fire Monaco ahead after 11 minutes but Kenny Lala leveled with a penalty in the 39th.

A minute later, Slimani pounced on a mistake by Stefan Mitrovic and rounded Matz Sels to put Monaco back in front but Adrien Thomasson equalized six minutes from time. At least they avoided for the first time this season having a player sent off. — Reuters


September 01, 2019
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