Chretien extends Nancy's great run

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PARIS, France -- Surprise package Nancy extended their strong start to the season with a 1-0 home win over bottom club Nantes on Saturday to hold on to third place in France's Ligue 1.

Easterners Nancy, who have no big name in their squad and limited means, scored after 53 minutes through Mickael Chretien and defended their lead despite having Senegal defender Pape Malikou Diakhate sent off for a second booking in the 75th minute.

Diakhate was one of six players shown the red card in Saturday's eight-match program.

Nancy won their first silverware in 28 years when they beat Nice in the French League Cup final in April.

The club where all-time great Michel Platini started his playing career are on 19 points from 10 games.

Champions Olympique Lyon top the standings on 25 points from nine matches before their visit to second-placed Olympique Marseille on Sunday.

Nantes, eight-times champions, stay last with a meager six points and just one win so far.

Monaco, Champions League finalists in 2004, continued to struggle with a 3-1 home defeat by fourth-placed Toulouse.

Coach Laszlo Boloni faces an uncertain future after the principality team dropped a spot to second from bottom.

Toulouse led after 12 minutes when Bryan Bergougnoux was on target and although Marco Di Vaio equalized within two minutes Monaco succumbed to a late burst from the visitors.

Johan Elmander restored Toulouse's lead with seven minutes left and Achille Emana added a a third in stoppage time. Monaco's Leandro Cufre was dismissed a minute from time.

On a tough night for once great clubs, Girondins Bordeaux also lost, a 2-1 defeat at Sochaux taking them down to ninth in the 20-strong league.

Alvaro Santos and Valter Birsa struck for Sochaux before Pierre Ducasse's penalty in time added on.

First win

Lille, who posted the first win of their Champions League campaign on Tuesday against AEK Athens, beat struggling Lorient 1-0 to climb a place to fifth .Mathieu Bodmer settled the issue from the penalty spot in the 36th minute.

Sebastien Roudet scored twice as Valenciennes beat visiting Troyes 3-1. The home side had Jose Saez sent off after 46 minutes and Eloge Enza Yamissi of Troyes followed 18 minutes later.

Frederic Piquionne, who scored St Etienne's second goal in a 2-0 defeat of Le Mans, received a red card with four minutes left.

Nice had to play all but the first eight minutes at Rennes with 10 men after Cedric Varrault's early red card. Even so they only went down to a 58th minute penalty from Olivier Monterrubio.

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