Mory Diaw, the custodian for the visiting Clermont team, was hit in the head by a firework that was thrown from the stands during Sunday’s Ligue 1 match between Montpellier and Clermont. Diaw had to be carried off the field on a stretcher following the incident.
As the contest was nearing stoppage time, television images showed a firecracker falling close to the feet of the Clermont custodian and bursting with a tremendous explosion. The incident occurred just as the match was about to reach overtime.
After an obviously startled Diaw fell down and required treatment before being taken off, the game was delayed before being abandoned after a crisis meeting was held.
After examining the Clermont custodian, the attending physician determined that he was unable to return to play due to the severity of his injuries. According to the comments that the referee Florent Batta made to the press at the Stade de la Mosson, the game has been finally stopped.
The incident occurred when Montpellier was up 4-2 and on track to win their first home game of the season. As a result of the event, Montpellier now faces the possibility of receiving severe penalties from the French footballing authority and having to repeat the game without its fans present.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of Marseille’s goal scorers in their earlier 3-0 victory against Le Havre, which was the club’s first win since Gennaro Gattuso took over as head coach.
Less than three days after squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Europa League, Marseille again scored twice early on but this time they easily cruised to victory against opponents who ended with 10 men on the pitch.
The captain of Le Havre, Arouna Sangante, scored an own goal in the 18th minute, giving Marseille the lead. Three minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a superb goal by clipping in a ball by Amine Harit. The final score was 2-0 in favour of Marseille.
Although it was Aubameyang’s fifth goal since joining Marseille in the offseason, it was the former Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund striker’s first goal in Ligue 1 in ten years. Aubameyang signed with Marseille in the offseason.
Still without a victory for Lyon
Le Havre were reduced to 10 men five minutes before halftime when Rassoul Ndiaye was sent off for a second yellow card. Marseille grabbed their third goal in the 84th minute when Aubameyang beat the custodian and back-heeled the ball for the coming Ismaila Sarr to score. Le Havre were eliminated from the match.
After defeating Arsenal in the Champions League during the previous week, Lens came back from a goal down to tie Lille at 1-1 in their home matchup in the northern derby.
Benjamin Andre gave Lille the lead, but Deiver Machado tied the score for Lens, who have now gone five games without suffering a loss in all competitions.
After throwing away a two-goal lead and ultimately settling for a 3-3 draw at home against Lorient, struggling Lyon are still winless in this campaign.
Eli Junior Kroupi gave Lorient the lead, but Ernest Nuamah tied the score in the 21st minute and Alexandre Lacazette gave Lyon the advantage in the next minute and a half.
Before the break, Lyon extended their lead to 3-1 thanks to a penalty kick from Lacazette, but Lorient came storming back in the second half, scoring two goals in quick succession thanks to Kroupi and Darlin Yongwa.
When Paris Saint-Germain travels to Rennes later on Sunday, they will be looking to get back on track after suffering a crushing defeat in the Champions League against Newcastle United the previous week.
After a win on the road against Reims on Saturday, Monaco moved ahead of Nice at the top of the Ligue 1 standings by one point. Their Cote d’Azur rivals, Nice, continued their perfect start to the season with a victory away at Metz by a score of 1-0.
After a 1-1 home tie with Toulouse, Brest is now two points behind the team in first place.