Montpellier missed the chance to move into second place in the
French league when it slipped to a crushing 4-0 defeat at Monaco on
Wednesday.
Defender Sebastien Puygrenier put Monaco ahead in the 11th
minute, and midfielder Lukman Haruna scored both of his second-half
goals in quick succession before Diego Perez completed the rout
late to lift coach Guy Lacombe's team up to seventh place.
Defending champion Bordeaux topped the standings with 43
points after 19 rounds, with Lille second on 34 and Montpellier one
point behind in third. Monaco has 30 points.
Midfielder Nene played a part in three of Monaco's goals at
Stade Louis II.
Monaco took the lead when Puygrenier headed Nene's corner
powerfully past goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren, and in the 55th
Nene's free kick was kicked away by defender Emir Spahic - but only
as far as Haruna, who finished with a powerful low shot.
Haruna scored again in the 66th when winger Park Chu-young's
shot was saved by Jourdren, and Haruna was in the right place for
the rebound.
Midfielder Younes Belhanda's sending off meant Montpellier
had to play with 10 for the last 20 minutes, and the visiting
defense cracked again in the 87th when midfielder Perez scored
after Nene's shot was blocked.
In Wednesday's other match, struggling Boulogne failed to get
the win it needed to ease its relegation fears when it was held to
0-0 at home by Sochaux.
Boulogne remained in the relegation zone in 19th place, two
points behind 17th-placed Le Mans.
