Giroud strikes again as Montpellier hit top spot
11/02/2012
Olivier Giroud scored his 16th goal of the season as Montpellier Hérault SC swept to the top of the table for 24 hours at least with a 3-0 dismissal of AC Ajaccio on Saturday.
Montpellier Hérault SC 3-0 AC Ajaccio 
Montpellier came into the game unbeaten in Ligue 1 action in 2012, and showed that their surprise push for the title is not about to come off the rails. René Girard's men did take their time to get a grip on the game, however. Younes Belhanda fired them in front from the penalty spot eight minutes after the break before Rémy Cabella and Giroud struck within three minutes of each other to lift the south-westerners ahead of Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference. The club from the capital are in action at OGC Nice on Sunday.
Though they came into the match in good form - only PSG and Olympique de Marseille had picked up more points since December - Ajaccio were no match for the hosts, who were once again mightily impressive. Giroud was just centimetres away from heading in an early Cabella cross while Guillermo Ochoa needed to be alert to turn aside a Marco Estrada blockbuster that appeared destined for the top corner.
The visitors though must have hoped they could take something from the game when they went in level at half-time. However, shortly after the re-start, those ambitions were dealt a blow. Henri Bedimo burst into the box and when the raiding full-back was upended by Benjamin André, Belhanda cheekily chipped the hosts in front from the spot.
FIRM CONTROL
Less than ten minutes later, Montpellier took firm control when Giroud, renowned for his goalscoring, showed his selfless streak, slipping a pass through for Cabella to move onto before unleashing a low drive beyond Ochoa.
Having assured themselves of embellishing their league-leading home record, all that was left was for Giroud to cement his place atop the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts, and the French international striker did not disappoint. A swift, flowing move started by goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren ended with Giroud confidently sidefooting the ball past Ochoa.
Ajaccio's Eduardo had started his career with the Corsican club in a manner of which Giroud would have been proud, but the former Guingamp and Lens striker was denied a fourth goal in four appearances for his new employers by Jourdren in the closing stages.