David scores twice as Lille beats Auxerre to pressure Lyon in race for Champions League
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PARIS (AP) — Canada striker Jonathan David scored two goals and set up the other as Lille beat Auxerre 3-1 on Sunday to maintain its push for a Champions League place next season.
Lille's win moved it provisionally up to fourth place and put some pressure on Lyon, which was playing later Sunday at bitter local rival Saint-Etienne. A win for Lyon would move it above Lille and level on points with third-placed Monaco.
The top three sides in France earn an automatic place into Europe's elite club competition, while the side in fourth enters qualifying.
Belgium right back Thomas Meunier gave Lille an early lead after being found by David, who then netted late in the first half with a clinical first-time effort.
After an own-goal from Brazilian defender Alexsandro made it 2-1, David ran through deep into injury time and held off defenders before grabbing his 16th league goal of what is likely to be his final season at Lille.
He is expected to move to a leading European club this summer. Since joining Lille in 2020, he has scored 107 goals in 228 games.
Lille's win was soured by a freakish injury to goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who was accidentally bumped into by Alexsandro when the defender scored the own-goal.
“He has two or three broken teeth,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio said. “He was angry about it and I can understand. He'll go to the dentist this week.”
Nice eyes top 3
Nice won 2-1 at home to Angers to move up to sixth place and remains in contention to qualify directly for the Champions League.
Coach Franck Haise's side is three points behind Monaco in third spot.
Midfielder Pablo Rosario and defender Ali Abdi scored for Nice, before Yassine Belkhdim got his first goal for Angers.
Siebatcheu scores after McKenzie sees red
United States striker Jordan Siebatcheu scored as Reims beat Toulouse 1-0 to move further away from the relegation zone.
Siebatcheu's goal came soon after countryman Mark McKenzie was sent off. The Toulouse defender was shown a straight red card in the 27th minute for fouling Aurélio Buta as he raced through.
Siebatcheu netted 12 minutes later with a looping header for Reims, which improved to 13th place.
In Sunday’s other game, Lens won 3-1 at Brest to climb above its rival and into eighth spot. ___
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