Pro Sports

Lille wins to move up to 4th place; Marseille beats Nice

Posted August 28, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Lille's Victor Osimhen reacts after scoring during the French League One soccer match between Lille and St Etienne in Villeneuve d'ascq, Wednesday, August 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) The Associated Press

NICE, France (AP) - Victor Osimhen made it four goals in three matches since joining Lille, scoring twice in a 3-0 home win against Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old Nigerian, who has four international caps for the Super Eagles, showed dexterity when opening the scoring in the 37th minute as he controlled the ball with his right foot and finished with his left. After fellow forward Jonathan Bamba obtained and scored a penalty in the 69th, Osimhen netted with a smart turn and diagonal shot in the 75th.

Lille climbed up to fourth spot, level on points with French champion Paris Saint-Germain and second-place Lyon but trailing them on goal difference. Rennes leads with nine points from three matches.

In Wednesday's other match, former Chelsea and Tottenham coach AndrÃ© Villas Boas secured his first win in charge of Marseille, which beat Nice 2-1. Argentine striker Dario Benedetto grabbed his first goal for Marseille since joining from Boca Juniors with a deflected strike in the 31st minute.

The sides then traded penalties, as midfielder Wylan Cyprien equalized for Nice in the 66th and veteran midfielder Dimitri Payet restored the lead for the visiting side in the 73rd.

The match was halted by referee ClÃ©ment Turpin midway thorough first half after Nice fans unfurled two banners with homophobic messages .

After three rounds of matches Nice - which was bought Tuesday by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe - is in fifth place and Marseille is 13th.

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Lille's Victor Osimhen, right, reacts after scoring during the French League One soccer match between Lille and St Etienne in Villeneuve d'ascq, Wednesday, August 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) The Associated Press

Marseille's Dario Benedetto, center, celebrates with teammate Dimitri Payet after scoring during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Marseille at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southern France, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) The Associated Press

Nice's Wylan Cyprien celebrates scoring a penalty during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Marseille at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southern France, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) The Associated Press

Nice soccer fans light flares before the start of the French League One soccer match between Nice and Marseille at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southern France, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) The Associated Press

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