Balotelli scores winner for Nice, then gets sent off

Posted November 05, 2017 6:00 am

By JEROME PUGMIRE

Marseille's Konstantinos Mitroglou, right, challenges for the ball with Caen's defender Damien Da Silva during the League One soccer match between Marseille and Caen, at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - Mario Balotelli scored the winning penalty and got sent off late on as Nice secured a much-needed 1-0 win against Dijon in the French league on Sunday.

It was the Italian striker's sixth goal in eight league games and moved Nice up to 15th place.

Balotelli sent goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 40th minute. He was shown a straight red with one minute left for a tackle from behind, the third time he has been sent off in France since joining last season from Liverpool.

It appeared a harsh decision. Balotelli made a tackle from behind but there seemed little malice in the challenge. He stayed on the field to protest referee Olivier Thual's decision.

"He had no intention to cause injury, I'm sure of that," Nice coach Lucien Favre said.

Nice, which finished third last season, had lost its last four league games and seven times overall to drift near the relegation zone.

"It's going to be tough for us until Christmas," Favre said. "We just don't have the spark to trouble teams."

Marseille climbed to third place with a 5-0 home win against Caen, while Lille earned a valuable 3-0 win at fellow struggler Metz.

Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo sent Marseille ahead just before the break and winger Florian Thauvin made it 2-0 just after.

Attacking midfielder Morgan Sanson put Marseille in complete control with a fine strike in the 52nd, before Greece striker Kostas Mitroglou added the fourth and Thauvin completed the rout.

Striker Nicolas Pepe's penalty late in the first half gave Lille the lead and midfielder Bahlouli netted midway through the second half. Pepe added a late third.

Lille is in 19th place and Metz remains last.

Lyon plays at local rival Saint-Etienne later Sunday.

Before Marseille's game against Caen, home fans at Stade Velodrome displayed banners making it clear to Patrice Evra that he is longer welcome at the club. Marseille suspended Evra on Friday after the left back aimed a kick at the head of a Marseille supporter during a Europa League match in Portugal.

"This Game Is Over," read one banner in English, mocking Evra's regular posts on social media where the player films himself talking about football and says "I love this game."

Another banner, in French, read: "Love for the jersey. Respect for supporters. Professionalism. Is that too much to ask?"

League leader PSG romped to a 5-0 win at Angers and second-place Monaco won 6-0 at home to Guingamp on Saturday.

Marseille's players celebrate after Marseille's Luiz Gustavo Dias, back, scored during the League One soccer match between Marseille and Caen, at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) The Associated Press

Marseille's Florian Thauvin reacts after scoring his second goal during the League One soccer match between Marseille and Caen, at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) The Associated Press

Marseille supporters display banners reading "Love of the jersey, respect for supporters, professionalism, is it too much to ask?", prior to the League One soccer match between Marseille and Caen, at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. Supporters react after Marseille's player Patrice Evra kicked the head of a supporter of Marseille before the Europa League match against Vitoria SC Guimaraes. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) The Associated Press

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