Lille's top-four hopes hit

Lille's bid for a top-four finish suffered a blow as they suffered a rare defeat at the hands of Toulouse.

Lille's bid for a top-four finish suffered a blow as they suffered a rare Ligue 1 defeat at the hands of Toulouse. Lille had not lost to Toulouse in their last 10 league encounters but that run came to an end at the Municipal Stadium as they slipped two points behind fourth-placed St Etienne after a 4-2 loss. Ben Yedder and Etienne Didot put improving Toulouse 2-0 up in the first half but Lille hit back to draw level just after half-time through goals from Marko Basa and Salomon Kalou. The visitors could not build on that fightback, though, and Toulouse claimed the win thanks to efforts from Daniel Braathen and Eden Ben Basat. Mid-table Toulouse came into the match in good form with just one defeat in 12 games and they dominated the opening half-hour, scoring twice and coming close on two other occasions. The first chance arrived in the 12th minute when Yedder's right-footed volley was saved by Steeve Elana at the second attempt, but the young striker was not to be denied seven minutes later when he put Toulouse ahead with a cool finish after Elana had parried a shot from Adil Hermach. Elana was forced into another stop in the 23rd minute to keep out Didot's header as Toulouse pushed for a second goal, which duly arrived in the 30th minute when Didot fired in a thunderous 20-yard effort which Elana could only get a slight touch on as it fizzed into the net off the post. Slumbering Lille finally awoke and they came within inches of pulling a goal back in the 33rd minute when Aurelien Chedjou crashed a header against the post. Toulouse failed to heed that warning as four minutes later Lille did get on the scoresheet when Basa headed home Dimitri Payet's deep free-kick. Lille were unable to get back on terms before the break but they needed just three minutes of the second half to level, Kalou chesting down Payet's cross at the far post before lashing a right-footed volley past Ali Ahamada. At that point the visitors looked favourites to take the points, but Toulouse recovered their composure and Yedder tested Elana again before the hosts reclaimed the lead in the 55th minute when Braaten fired home a superb pass from the impressive Yedder. Ahamada kept Toulouse in front with fine saves to keep out efforts from Ronny Rodelin and Payet, and the home side then sealed the points with a breakaway goal in the 89th minute which was finished off by Ben Basat.