MX23RW : Friday, March 29 08:35:37| >> :600:1084548:1084548:
[monks data]
Montpellier
Ligue 1
Jan 25, 2014 at 7pm UK
 
Nice

3-1

Niang (31'), Hilton (54'), Camara (81')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Bosetti (69')

Montpellier ease relegation worries with Nice win

Montpellier HSC move six points clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone with a comfortable win over Nice.

Montpellier HSC moved six points clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Nice on Saturday evening.

Alexy Bosetti had given Nice a glimmer of hope when he reduced the hosts' advantage after goals from Mbaye Niang and Vitorino Hilton, but Souleymane Camara struck late on to guarantee Montpellier the victory.

Montpellier's French forward Mbaye Niang (R) reacts after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match Montpellier vs Nice at Mosson stadium in Montpellier, southern France, on January 25, 2014© Getty Images

It was the home side who made the better start to the game and dictated the early play with their dominant possession, as David Ospina was forced to push away an Anthony Mounier shot following a lovely counter-attack.

Remy Cabella, who has been the subject of transfer speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle United, had an opportunity at goal after being gifted the ball, but his shot from outside the box lacked power and was easy for Ospina.

Cabella then went on a brilliant solo run, beating four players down the left, before his bobbling cross was blazed over the bar by Mounier.

However, the hosts finally got the lead they deserved just after the half-hour mark. Mounier ran onto a through-ball, before drawing out Ospina and squaring a pass to Niang, who tapped into an empty net.

Niang thought that he had doubled Montpellier's lead immediately after the break, but his rebound goal was disallowed for offside after Ospina had saved from Mounier's low shot from outside the box.

Montpellier's French mifielder Morgan Sanson (L) vies for the ball with Nice's French midfielder Nampalys Mendy during the French L1 football match on January 25, 2014© Getty Images

However, Montpellier did find a second in the 54th minute when Hilton was on hand to convert the ball from close range at the back post after Mounier's corner had been flicked on at the front stick by Daniel Congre.

Nice managed to pull one back with just over 20 minutes left to play when Bosetti ran onto a long ball before poking past Geoffrey Jourdren and into the back of the net.

Despite the goal, Montpellier made sure of the win nine minutes from time. Victor Hugo Montano's mazy run ended with Ospina saving his powerful shot to his left, but then Camara took the rebound on his chest before firing a volley into the far corner to seal all three points.

Montpellier move up to 15th in the table, while Nice remain three points ahead of them in 13th.

ID:132850: cacheID:132850:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5538:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Lorient's players celebrate after scoring the opening goal against Montpellier during their Ligue 1 match on December 4, 2013
Read Next:
Lorient record vital win over Montpellier
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!