SOCHAUX STILL IN THE MIRE
Sochaux are not yet safe from relegation after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of European hopefuls Lens.
Sochaux are six points clear of third-bottom Strasbourg and, crucially, have a game in hand of the bottom four.
However, this defeat delays any celebrations that might be in the pipeline.
Seydou Keita and former Sochaux player Pierre-Alain Frau gave Lens a 2-0 lead and although an Araujo Ilan goal gave the visitors hope there would be no comeback.
Lens midfielder Yohan Demont set the ball rolling after 20 minutes when he crossed towards Keita who headed home the opening goal for the northerners.
Sochaux almost got on terms when Romain Pitau fed the ball to Melvut Erding but Adama Coulibaly got in a crucial tackle.
Frau then created a chance for Alou Diarra whose header was just off target but after 34 minutes it was 2-0.
Daniel Cousin beat two defenders and crossed towards Frau whose header found the net.
Frau could have had a second goal against his former team-mates after the break but fired wide after latching onto a cross from team-mate Benoit Assou Ekotto.
Sochaux got themselves back in contention after 71 minutes when Moumani Dagano shrugged off the challenge of Coulibaly and crossed towards Ilan whose header billowed the Lens net.
It was Lens who came closest to scoring in the remainder of the match.
Frau spurned another chance when he fired over from 20 yards with the Sochaux defence looking exposed.
Cousin did put the ball in the net with two minutes remaining after being set up by Assou Ekotto but the goal was disallowed for offside.
[ 11:28 AM ] [ Mar. 27, 2006 ]
