Olivier Giroud's 20th league goal of the season failed to save leader Montpellier as it slipped to a 2-1 defeat at struggling Lorient on Sunday, opening the door for Paris Saint-Germain in the closely-contested French title race.
The visitors let Paris St Germain back in the title race as their three-match winning run came to an end
Henri Bedimo's own goal in the 69th minute put the hosts in front and Joel Campbell's goal eight minutes later doubled their advantage.
Olivier Giroud pulled one back for Montpellier a minute later, but they still slipped to defeat.
Lorient, still not yet safe from relegation, started brightly with Jeremie Aliadiere having a penalty claim waved away after he went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren.
The keeper was then in the right place to save Kevin Monnet-Paquet's header following a fine run and cross from Yann Jouffre.
The home side should have gone ahead in the 30th minute, but Aliadiere missed from point-blank range from a Monnet-Paquet cross with Mathias Autret blazing the follow-up over with the goal at his mercy.
Montpellier were finally starting to find their feet and John Utaka had a shot kept out by a combination of keeper Fabien Audard and Wesley Lautao.
Audard denied Utaka again after Giroud had played in the Nigerian, who then pulled a ball back for Giroud to fire first time just past the top corner.
The visitors started the second half as they had finished the first and Remy Cabella saw his low shot saved by the feet of Audard.
At the other end Campbell was off target from Aliadiere's cross when well placed in the area.
But Lorient went in front in the 69th minute, Aliadiere's header from an Autret cross turned into his own net by Bedimo.
Things got worse for Montpellier when Campbell put them two behind, beating defender Hilton before firing an excellent shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.
Montpellier hit back immediately as Karim Ait Fana picked out Giroud perfectly from the right and the striker scored with a confident finish.
But they could not find an equalizer and instead Lorient came close to extending their lead with Aliadiere's shot turned on to the post by Jourdren.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
