Guingamp snatch a stalemate

Thibault Giresse's second-half penalty rescued a point for Guingamp as they recorded a 1-1 draw at Montpellier.

Thibault Giresse's second-half penalty rescued a point for Guingamp as they recorded a 1-1 draw at Montpellier where Jean Fernandez took charge of his 600th game as a coach. The home side had taken the lead with 20 minutes left through Remy Cabella at Stade de la Mosson before Giresse struck for a well-earned share of the spoils. Jocelyn Gourvennec's side sit seventh in Ligue 1, one of four teams with 19 points, while Montpellier are 16th and winless in their last four league games. The home side started well and had a good chance to take the lead after 12 minutes. It was the first real opportunity of the game as Remy Cabella took a corner from the left and sent the ball to the near post where Benjamin Stambouli picked it up with a volley but fired just wide. Guingamp did not put any real pressure on until the half-hour mark when Steeven Langil freed striker Claudio Beauvue, who raced all the way with the ball and moved inside the penalty area before firing the ball just inches over the bar. Then five minutes later the away side came close again with Beauvue well-placed to hand his side the lead. Giresse's free-kick outside the penalty area on the right reached Beauvue in the box where he jumped up for an unmarked header, but sent it inches wide. On the brink of half-time Montpellier could have opened the scoring as Cabella's free-kick from 30 yards out found Victor Hugo Montano in the penalty area, but his header was blocked by Ndy Assembe to ensure a goalless first half. The second period took a while to get going but it was the home side that looked more promising as Stambouli waited at the far post for Morgan Sanson's corner from the left and sent the ball crashing on to the crossbar. Down at the other end of the pitch, minutes later, Christophe Mandanne collected Beauvue's cross on the right but he too was denied by the bar. And the goal finally came for Montpellier after 70 minutes as Hilton set up Cabella for the opener. The Brazilian defender found Cabella 30 yards out in the middle of the defence and the 23-year-old Frenchman curled the ball in with his right foot to send the ball underneath the bar for a beautiful goal. But seven minutes later Guingamp struck back with a penalty after Hilton brought down Ladislas Douniama in the box. Giresse made no mistake as he sent a left-footed shot to the left with a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren, who chose right but it not enough to block the ball.