Montpellier beats struggling Saint-Etienne to go 5th

PARIS (AP) - Andy Delort's first-half goal helped 10-man Montpellier beat struggling Saint-Etienne 1-0 on Sunday and move up to fifth place in the French league.

Delort met Junior Sambia's first-time cross whipped in from the right with a thumping header which flew past goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier in the 25th minute.

But after Sambia's sending off in the 42nd, Montpellier was on the back foot for much of the game.

Saint-Etienne's 12th defeat of the season leaves it sliding toward the relegation zone in 15th place.

Strasbourg climbed up to sixth spot, one point behind Montpellier, after beating midtable Reims 3-0 at home.

All the goals came in the second half, through center half Alexander Djiku, forward Majeed Waris and right back Kenny Lala's last-minute penalty.

League leader Paris Saint-Germain hosted Lyon later Sunday.

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