LILLE: Lille got a much-needed boost on Friday with Sofiane Boufal and Djibril Sidibe lifting the northerners to a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Montpellier — only their second win in nine Ligue 1 matches.

Lille scored in controversial circumstances two minutes from half-time when Boufal converted a spot kick after he was adjudged to have been tripped as he ran into the penalty area. Television replays showed the Lille midfielder appeared to have dived.

Sidibe doubled Lille’s lead shortly after the hour with a superb finish into the far side of the net.

The win provisionally lifts Lille five spots to 11th in the table with 10 points while Montpellier remain in the first relegation spot with four points.

Published in Dawn October 4th, 2015

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