Newz Forum: SOCCER: France's Ligue 1 results 07/05/05

Lyon must wait 24 hours at least to be crowned Ligue 1 champions for the fourth consecutive season after closest pursuers Lille pulled off a 1-0 win against Paris St Germain.

Lyon, who will clinch the title with three games to spare if they beat Ajaccio on Sunday, might have triumphed without kicking a ball if Lille and Monaco had failed to win.

Monaco were held 0-0 at Rennes but a late goal from substitute Kevin Maralas helped Lille stay, mathematically at least, in the race.

At the other end of the table Istres were relegated with a 2-0 defeat at Bastia who remain in the bottom three themselves.

Fabrice Jau and Youssouf Hadji scored the goals for the Corsicans.

Also in the relegation zone but still alive are Caen whose shock 3-2 win at Marseille has given them a slender lifeline. Cyrille Watier clinched the win in stoppage time for Caen who had twice earlier taken the lead through Sebastien Mazure and Julien Valoro. Laurent Batlles and then Peguy Luyindula scored equalisers for Marseille.

Metz still have some work to do to stay up after Richard Socrier's opener was equalised by Ferreyra Jussiei for Lens.

Coupe de la Ligue winners Strasbourg are almost safe after a 2-1 win at Sochaux. Goals from Pascal Johansen and Mickael Pagis won the day after Jaouad Zairi had put Sochaux ahead.

Goals from Lamine Sakho and Pascal Feindouno gave St Etienne a 2-0 win at Toulouse.

Nice and Nantes are also still in trouble after a goalless draw.

Sportinglife.com