Olivier Giroud put hosts
Montpellier ahead in the 64th minute when he finished off a flowing move by
curling the ball into the bottom corner for his 10th league goal of the season.
Lille has picked up only one point from its last two
games, opening up the title race with seven games remaining.
Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac leveled five minutes
after Giroud's goal, running onto a long pass from midfield and clipping the
ball over goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren for his second goal in two games and
seventh in the league this season.
“We reacted well after
conceding the first goal. Gignac scored and we benefited from a penalty at the
end,” Marseille defender Charles Kabore said. “We bounced back and got three
very important points.” Gignac, who has lost his place in the France squad
since the team's disappointing World Cup campaign, almost added another goal
with a powerful shot that swerved just wide of the top corner.
After both teams had a player
sent off, Taiwo scored in the 82nd when he coolly sent Jourdren the wrong way.
Referee Stephane Lannoy
awarded Marseille the penalty after Abdelhamid El Kaoutari tugged back Loic
Remy as he was about to shoot. Lannoy then sent both players off. Remy was
dismissed even though Marseille was awarded the decision.
Last-place Arles-Avignon was
relegated after losing 1-0 at home to Valenciennes, with Gregory Pujol scoring
his 14th goal of the season. Arles has won just one of its 31 matches.
