Debuchy hands Lille a lifeline
18/02/2012
A second-half strike from Mathieu Debuchy was all that separated champions LOSC Lille Métropole from a spirited FC Lorient as third-placed Lille closed the gap temporarily on leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
FC Lorient 0 - 1 LOSC Lille Metropole 
Lille were looking to bounce back from last week's 5-4 defeat at the hands of Bordeaux when they met Lorient on Saturday. The two sides had drawn 1-1 in the reverse fixture in September so a tough battle was on the cards.
Few would have expected Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreu to be quite so busy. The former French international was called into action three times in the first half. He denied Alaixys Romao and then Gabon defender Bruno Ecuele Manga before rolling back the years with a brilliant save to prevent Arnold Mvuemba from opening the scoring with his curling free kick (36').
Debuchy opener
With the rain pouring down, especially in the second half, conditions were never kind and the goal, when it came, was a scrappy one. In a rare foray forward Lille found space behind the Lorient defence and Mathieu Debuchy somehow scored from the unlikeliest of angles (76').
Debuchy doesn't score many goals - just five this season - but he has a habit of scoring in the final quarter of matches. His last four have all come late and this one may prove to be precious as Lille try and close the gap on Paris Saint-Germain and second placed Montpellier.
Ten minutes later Lorient, who are just six points clear of the relegation zone, had a great chance to get back on level terms but after determined work from Mathias Autret, Romao was unable to finish the job (86').
With the clock ticking down former Lille's former Saint Etienne striker Dmitri Payet tried his luck with a fierce shot from distance but it was easily dealt with and by then Les Dogues had done enough to collect the three points.