PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) – In-form Julien Feret scored one
goal and set up another to help Stade Rennes climb up to fourth
place in Ligue 1 with four games to go as they defeated 10-man
Ajaccio 3-1 at home on Sunday.
Rennes won their fourth consecutive league match to occupy
the first Europa League spot on 57 points and are one ahead of
French Cup winners Olympique Lyon, who have a game in hand.
Feret gave the hosts the lead when keeper Guillermo Ochoa
deflected a Jires Kembo shot on the woodwork only to see Rennes
playmaker head the ball in on the rebound in the 27th minute.
Razak Boukari doubled their advantage with five minutes to
go as he bent the ball in the top right corner from outside the
box before Yacine Brahimi ran through to seal the victory in
stoppage time following a Feret pass.
Ajaccio, a point and a place above the drop zone, were
reduced to 10 men after just 11 minutes when Samuel Bouhours was
sent off for a harsh tackle on Jonathan Pitroipa. Ilan’s 89th
minute goal was of no use.
St Etienne stayed in contention for a European berth as
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 14th goal of the league
season to earn his side a 1-0 home win over lowly Dijon.
Les Verts are sixth on 56 points while Dijon lie 16th on 34
points, one place above Ajaccio but on the same points.
At the bottom, basement side Auxerre kept their thin hopes
of avoiding relegation alive after they thrashed fellow
strugglers Stade Brest 4-0 at home.
Auxerre, who have been playing in Ligue 1 since 1980 and
featured in the Champions League group stage last season, are
three points from safety.
Brest sacked coach Alex Dupont this week after they lost six
of the last seven games and stay 18th on 33 points while Sochaux
are a spot below and on the same points having lost 3-0 at home
to midtable Girondins Bordeaux as they were reduced to nine men.
Second-placed Paris St Germain visit third-placed champions
Lille in the late game as Carlo Ancelotti’s men try to stay on
the coat-tails of leaders Montpellier, 1-0 winners at Toulouse
on Friday.
(Reporting by Gregory Blachier; Editing by Mark Meadows)
