Unimpressive Lille slump to defeat at Lorient
Lille's terrible start to the Ligue 1 season continued on Friday, as the French champions were defeated 2-1 by Lorient, leaving them with only one win from their first five games.
Lille’s terrible start to the Ligue 1 season continued on Friday, as the French champions were defeated 2-1 by Lorient, leaving them with only one win from their first five games.
After Armand Lauriente’s early opener, Burak Yilmaz equalized from the spot, but Jocelyn Gouvennec’s side conceded a last-gasp goal from Terem Moffi, leaving them in 10th position with only five points.
Lorient is in fourth place with eight points after abandoning control but being the most threatening on the break.
When Paris St Germain takes on promoted Clermont on Saturday, they will be seeking for their fifth win in as many games without Neymar and Lionel Messi, who have returned from international duty but have played too recently to be part.
Kylian Mbappe, on the other hand, is expected to return for PSG after recovering from a calf injury.
Lille fell behind in the seventh minute when Lauriente volleyed home off Moffi’s backpass at the end of a move. Lille were without injured Renato Sanches, Jonathan Bamba, and Timothy Weah.
They drew level in the 25th minute when Yilmaz converted a penalty after Julien Laporte was taken down in the box.
Lorient, who were denied a penalty following a handball in the area by Jose Fonte, continued to threaten, and Ivo Grbic had to make numerous saves to keep the visitors in the game.
Three minutes from time, the hosts were rewarded when Nigerian Moffi slipped the ball past Grbic after receiving a cross from Vincent Le Goff.
Lille’s late surge was well handled by the Lorient defense, but the French champions fell short four days before playing VfL Wolfsburg in their Champions League group opener.