PARIS (AP) — Lens extended its unbeaten run in the French league to eight games with a 3-0 win at Clermont in an ill-tempered match on Saturday.
Club-record signing Elye Wahi opened the scoring for Lens with an 11th-minute header but was sent off in first-half stoppage time, along with Clermont defender Alidu Seidu.
Lens remained in sixth place but moved one point behind fifth-place Reims ahead of Sunday's games. It is some turnaround for Lens after losing four of its first five matches.
Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba, who is a backup goalie for France, prevented an equalizer with a stunning close-range stop from striker Grejohn Kyei in the 26th.
Wahi, who joined this summer from Montpellier for 35 million euros ($38 million), was shown a second yellow card and sent off following a heated verbal exchange with Seidu, who was shown a straight red card moments later. That decision angered Clermont coach Pascal Gastien and he got sent off from the dugout.
Lens controlled the second half, adding further goals through midfielder Adrien Thomasson in the 50th following a poor clearance from Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw, and striker Wesley Saïd's low shot in the 82nd.
In Saturday's other game, Marseille fought back and then held on to draw 1-1 at Strasbourg.
Marseille has only one win in the last nine games and remains in ninth place, while coach Patrick Vieira’s Strasbourg is 12th.
Strasbourg took the lead after six minutes when veteran striker Kevin Gameiro got behind the Marseille defense. His angled shot was saved by goalkeeper Pau Lopez but the loose ball fell to Gameiro, who squared it to give Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha an easy finish.
France left back Jonathan Clauss volleyed home Marseille's equalizer from the edge of the penalty area in the 27th and did not celebrate against Strasbourg, where he played as a youth.
Lopez then made two excellent close-range saves in the second half before being rescued by his crossbar from forward Dilane Bakwa's shot in the 71st.
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