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Other Football

Victor Montano struck a second-half brace to lift Montpellier to victory over Lille and up to fifth in the Ligue 1 standings.

Montano opened the scoring after 65 minutes and made the game safe three minutes from time at the Stade de la Mosson to secure a first win in four league games for his side and end Lille's recent resurgence.

Both teams showed lots of endeavour in the first half without making the breakthrough, but Montano's late intervention swung the game in the hosts' favour.

Rene Girard's side headed into this encounter unbeaten at home but having picked up only one point from their last three matches, and looked determined to return to winning ways from the outset.

Montano gave Lille an early warning of what was to come by finding space from a fourth-minute free-kick but headed wide.

The visitors, languishing in 14th but buoyed by having beaten champions Bordeaux on their last outing, went close midway through the first half through Gervinho but hesitation from the Ivorian allowed Cyril Jeunechamp to get back and make a last-ditch tackle.

Montano turned provider in the 38th minute with a superb ball down the right for Souleymane Camara, but the Senegal striker saw his effort turned away for a corner by Lille goalkeeper Mikael Landreau.

Camara had a couple more sights at goal before the interval but was again denied on both occasions, first hitting a shot straight at Landreau and then seeing his blast deflected into the side-netting by defender Frank Beria.

Yohan Cabaye's neat 25-yard attempt 12 minutes after the interval whistled just wide of the Montpellier goal, and eight minutes later the deadlock was broken - at the other end.

A free-kick into the box from Joris Marveaux cannoned off Lille defender Aurelien Chedjou and fell invitingly at the feet of Montano, who smashed past Landreau to put his side ahead.

Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren was called upon to preserve his team's advantage after 79 minutes, keeping out a weak header from Gervinho from substitute Ludovic Obraniak's cross.

But the equaliser was not forthcoming and, three minutes from time, Montpellier bagged a second.

Good play on the left by Karim Ait-Fana resulted in a cross towards Montano. The Colombian checked his forward run to control the ball and then placed his shot past Landreau.