PARIS (AP) — Defender Ruben Aguilar was sent off moments after scoring his team’s second goal as Lens rallied to beat Rennes 3-1 to go top of Ligue 1 on Saturday.
New signing Allan Saint-Maximin grabbed a superb third goal late on to help Lens move one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain, which on Sunday.
France winger set up Aguilar for a close-range header with a neat cross from the left in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, the scorer was shown a second yellow card following a clumsy challenge from behind.
Despite being down to 10 men, Lens scored again in the 78th when goalkeeper Robin Risser’s long kick was expertly controlled by Saint-Maximin on the left flank. He then beat two defenders while dribbling at speed before firing a swerving shot into the corner and celebrating with a back summersault.
Saint-Maximin turns 29 next month. Twelve years ago he was considered a teenage prodigy when he broke onto the scene with Saint-Etienne, but his career has not matched expectations despite some bright spells at Nice and Newcastle in the Premier League.
He moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, had an unhappy loan spell at Turkish side Fenerbahce and then played briefly for Club América in Mexico before joining Lens at the end of the .
With Lens in contention for the league and double, he has a chance to relaunch his career.
Forward Esteban Le Paul gave Rennes an early lead with a neat finish after Arnaud Nordin spotted his clever run and played him in behind the left back.
Lens equalized near halftime when striker Odsonne Édouard latched onto a long ball and held off a defender before shooting through goalkeeper Mathys Silistrie’s legs.
Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet — who is joining Premier League champion — went off in the second half with a shoulder injury.
Lyon wins as Endrick sees red
was sent off in the second half of Lyon’s 1-0 win at struggling Nantes.
Lyon’s 12th straight victory in all competitions was soured by a red card for the 19-year-old Endrick, who is .
He was shown a yellow card after two minutes. Endrick was then shown a second yellow — upgraded to a straight red in the 61st following a video review — for kicking midfielder Dehmaine Tabibou’s left ankle as the ball was going out.
The straight red means Endrick faces a suspension.
Goal-scoring midfielder netted midway through the first half, turning in a shot from Afonso Moreira after Nantes failed to properly defend a short corner.
The win moved Lyon into third place, meaning Marseille needs to beat PSG on Sunday to reclaim third on goal difference.
Nantes hit the post three times and is languishing in 16th. That is the promotion-relegation playoff position that will see a matchup with the side finishing third in Ligue 2.
Also Saturday, forwards Rémy Labeau-Lascary and Ludovic Ajorque scored in the second half as Brest beat mid-table Lorient 2-0 in a Brittany derby.
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