10-man Sochaux beats Marseille

Marseille's Jordan Ayew (left) struggled to get past Mother Nature as well as Sochaux.

SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images

PARIS (AP) -- Relegation-threatend Sochaux recorded a surprising 3-1 win over title chasers Marseille in the French league on Sunday, despite being reduced to 10 men for the final 30 minutes.

Sochaux had lost its previous three league games and had not won since the middle of November, but it took the lead in the 18th minute after Sloan Privat headed in a corner.

Cedric Bakambu doubled Sochaux's tally shortly before halftime as heavy snow continued to fall at the Stade Auguste Bonal.

It got worse for Marseille immediately after the break when defender Jeremy Morel turned Sebastien Roudet's cross into his own net.

Andre Ayew pulled one back for Marseille before Sochaux's Joseph Lopy was sent off for two yellow cards.

Marseille hit the woodwork twice through Nicolas N'Koulou and Lucas Mendes but couldn't pull closer.

Sochaux movedout of the relegation zone and into 17th, while Marseille remains third, three points behind leader Lyon.

Earlier, Bastia beat fellow struggler Reims 2-1 for a second successive victory.

Bastia hadn't scored away from home in its previous five games but Ilan ended that barren run when he acrobatically sent home a cross from Jerome Rothen in the 20th minute.

Florian Thauvin doubled Bastia's lead three minutes into the second half with another spectacular goal, following an assist from Anthony Modeste.

Reims pulled one back in the 63rd when Gaetan Courtet was left unmarked to slot home Diego's cross.

However, it was Bastia that looked the more likely to score again and Modeste had the ball in the back of the net in the final minute, but it was ruled out for offside.

The loss extended Reims' run without a victory to 13 matches.

Elsewhere, Nice crushed Valenciennes 5-0 to move above its opponent and level with fifth-place Rennes.

Dario Cvitanich opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime and the floodgates opened after the break, with Cvitanich scoring again to add to goals from Renato Civelli, Valentin Eysseric and Didier Digard.