Ligue 1 wrap: Shock loss for Marseille, Cvitanich fires Nice

13 January 2013 23:33

Sochaux stunned Marseille 3-1 while Nice climbed to fifth with a 5-0 thumping of Valenciennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Without a league win since November, Sochaux were rank outsiders as they approached their home clash against their third-placed opponents.

But despite a lengthy injury list and ending the match with 10 men, Eric Hely's side produced a battling display to claim all three points.

Most of the damage was done in the first half when Sloan Pirvat opened the scoring after 18 minutes, converting Rafael Dias' assist.

Forward Cedric Bakambu doubled Sochaux's lead five minutes before the break and the home fans were in dreamland when Marseille defender Jeremy Morel scored an own goal just one minute into the second half.

The losers pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when Jordan Ayew netted his eighth goal of the season and when Sochaux midfielder Joseph Lopy was sent off shortly after, Marseille had hope.

But despite having seven shots on target – almost double as many as their opponents – Elie Baup's side could not score again as the hosts celebrated an unlikely win.

A second-half blitz helped Nice to a thumping win over Valenciennes at Stade Municipal du Ray.

Nice gave their fans something to cheer on the stroke of half-time when Dario Cvitanich bagged the opener.

And further goals to Cvitanich, Renato Civelli, Valentin Eysseric and Didier Digard in the second stanza gave Nice a huge victory.

The day's other game saw Bastia win at Reims 2-1 thanks to strikes from Ilan and Florian Thauvin.