Franck Honorat scored a second-half winner as Brest rallied past Marseille 2-1 to extend the longest winning run in the top-flight history of French league club on Saturday.
The home loss at Stade Velodrome ended Marseille's seven-match unbeaten run and blew a chance to consolidate second place behind Paris Saint-Germain in the standings. The runaway leader had a 12-point lead when it hosted Lens late Saturday.
Honorat's powerful strike in the 69th minute from Jérémy Le Douaron's brilliant assist sealed Brest's sixth consecutive win, just after the unmarked Matteo Guendouzi missed a golden chance to restore Marseille's lead from Pol Lirola's cutback pass in the area.
Brest's Franck Honorat celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Brest at the Veldrome stadium in Marseille, France, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP PhotoDaniel Cole)
A turning point came in the 53rd minute when Brest was awarded a penalty following a handball from Boubacar Kamara in the box. Romain Faivre coolly converted to put the teams level.
Marseille previously looked dominant, although struggling to translate ball possession into clear chances.
Apart from a left-footed shot from Gerson that forced goalkeeper Marco Bizot to a good save in the 6th minute, Jorge Sampaoli's side was left frustrated by Brest's solid defending for long spells.
Brest's Romain Faivre, left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal from a penalty kick during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Brest at the Veldrome stadium in Marseille, France, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP PhotoDaniel Cole)
The hosts peppered the visitors' box with a flurry of harmless crosses but persevered in their efforts to take the lead near the half-hour mark. Gerson played a one-two with Dimitri Payet on the edge of the box and unleashed a precise shot into the top left corner.
After a shaky start in Marseille, where he arrived this summer from Flamengo, the Brazil international seems to have finally settled at the nine-time champion. It was Gerson's second goal in the space of four days after the midfielder scored the winner against Nantes midweek.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Marseille's Gerson, 2nd left, celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Brest at the Veldrome stadium in Marseille, France, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP PhotoDaniel Cole)
Paris Saint-Germain all but sealed a record-equaling 10th French league crown with five rounds to spare by winning 3-0 at Angers on Wednesday.
PSG is 15 points ahead of second-place Marseille and has a vastly superior goal difference, but still still needs one point at home against Lens on Saturday to clinch the title.
PSG is set to move level with Saint-Etienne, which won its 10th title in 1981 and is fighting to stay up this season. PSG only had two titles to Marseille's nine when cash-rich Qatari owners QSI bought PSG in 2011.
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, left, challenges with Angers' Angelo Fulgini, right, and Angers' Souleyman Doumbia during the League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint Germain, at the Raymond-Kopa stadium in Angers, western France, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoJeremias Gonzalez)
Kylian Mbappe fired PSG ahead from the edge of the penalty area in the 28th minute after swapping passes with right back Achraf Hakimi.
Former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos headed in Angel Di Maria’s cross following a short corner just before the break, and captain Marquinhos headed in another fine pass from Di Maria in the 77th.
It looked like PSG would be able to start celebrating the title as Nantes led twice at Marseille. But Marseille rallied with Dimitri Payet netting two penalties and midfielder Amine Harit clinching a 3-2 win when he scored against his former club in the 75th.
PSG's Sergio Ramos, right, celebrates his goal with PSG's Achraf Hakimi during the League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint Germain, at the Raymond-Kopa stadium in Angers, western France, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoJeremias Gonzalez)
Marseille strengthened its bid to finish second in the automatic Champions League spot as it now holds a six-point lead over Rennes and Strasbourg. Alsace-side Strasbourg beat Rennes 2-1 at home.
Mbappe’s league-leading 22 goals puts him two ahead of Rennes forward Martin Terrier, who equalized for Rennes before imposing striker Ludovic Ajorque grabbed Strasbourg’s winner as coach Julien Stephan defeated the club where he made his name.
Rennes stays third in the Champions League playoff place on goal difference ahead of fourth-place Strasbourg and fifth-place Monaco, which beat Nice 1-0 at home to leapfrog its local rival.
PSG's Marquinhos waves to supporters prior to the League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint Germain, at the Raymond-Kopa stadium in Angers, western France, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoJeremias Gonzalez)
At Stade Velodrome, Marseille fell behind midway through the first half when Brazilian midfielder Andrei Girotto was set up by midfielder Wylan Cyprien.
Payet equalized in the 39th but Marcus Coco restored the lead two minutes later for French Cup finalist Nantes.
Payet’s second penalty in the 55th made it 12 league goals for the former France playmaker, seven of them from the spot.
CHASE FOR EUROPE
Monaco is right back in contention for third place, with Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin netting in first-half injury time following a cross from Brazilian Vanderson.
Match jerseys were to be auctioned to raise money for Ukrainians fleeing their country following Russia’s invasion.
Monaco is two points ahead of Nice and three ahead of seventh-place Lens, which beat Montpellier 2-0 at home to stay in the hunt for European places.
Eighth-place Lyon lost 2-1 at Brest and defending champion Lille was beaten 2-1 at Reims, which scored an injury-time winner through captain Yunis Abdelhamid.
Lille sits in ninth, one point behind seven-time champion Lyon.
RELEGATION SCRAP
Guinea striker Mohamed Bayo pounced in the 88th minute as Clermont won 1-0 at fellow struggler Troyes to move up to 17th place.
Saint-Etienne dropped to 18th — the relegation-promotion playoff position — after drawing 2-2 at 19th-place Bordeaux.
Six-time champion Bordeaux, which has conceded a league-high 79 goals, went 2-0 up inside 22 minutes through 19-year-old forward Sekou Mara and midfielder Jean Onana.
Goals from Denis Bouanga and fellow forward Arnaud Nordin earned Saint-Etienne a draw that kept it four points clear of Bordeaux.
Rock-bottom Metz edged closer to relegation after losing 1-0 at Lorient, which improved to 15th thanks to Dango Outarra’s winner deep into injury time.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
