Misery for nine-man Rennes

Nine-man Rennes slumped to a 4-1 defeat against Valenciennes on Saturday.

Nine-man Rennes experienced second-half misery at Stade du Hainaut as they fell to a 4-1 defeat against Valenciennes. Things began well for the visitors when Jonathan Pitroipa fired them in front on the half-hour mark before Maor Melikson levelled the scores soon after. But the evening quickly went downhill after the interval as first Dimitri Foulquier and then John Boye were sent off within the space of six minutes. With their obvious advantage, Valenciennes took control and goals from Lindsay Rose, Kenny Lala and Jose Saez wrapped up an emphatic win which moves the club above their opponents on goal difference. Both sides began the game quietly and it was not until the 19th minute that either goalkeeper was tested. Rennes were awarded a dangerous free-kick and Julien Feret's direct shot was turned away for a corner by Nicolas Penneteau. However, the breakthrough came on the half hour and it was Rennes who found it. Finding space in behind the defence, Pitroipa beat off attention from Rose before superbly finishing from inside the area. The hosts' lead did not last, though, as Valenciennes hit back just eight minutes later. Gael Danic took charge of a free-kick and, with the help of a telling touch from Melikson, the ball finished up beyond Benoit Costil and in the back of the net. Matters got worse for Rennes on the hour mark when defender Foulquier was given his marching orders for a second yellow card, and soon after they were reduced to nine men when Boye saw red for a professional foul. Valenciennes made full use of their advantage and took the lead for the first time in the match with little more than 20 minutes to play. Danic got his second assist of the evening when his corner was met at the near post by Rose, who made up for his earlier defensive frailties to send the ball past Costil. Unsurprisingly, the nine men of Rennes struggled to contain Valenciennes and the hosts scored a further two goals before full-time. Defender Lala showed the skills of a striker to cleverly lift the ball over Costil after Mathieu Dossevi had picked him out, before substitute Saez wrapped up all three points with a goal at the death.