Montpellier clinch maiden Ligue 1 title

Sunday Toulouse 0-2 AC Ajaccio Lille 4-1 Nancy St Etienne 2-3 Bordeaux

Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Montpellier's president Louis Nicollin (L) and coach Rene Girard (R) celebrate as Montpellier won the French L1 championship. Net photo.

SundayToulouse 0-2 AC AjaccioLille 4-1 NancySt Etienne 2-3 BordeauxEvian 0-1 BrestValenciennes 3-1 CaenRennes 5-0 Dijon FCOSochaux 1-0 MarseilleAuxerre 1-2 MontpellierLyon 3-4 NiceLorient 1-2 PSGAUXERRE – Montpellier players kept their cool to clinch a maiden Ligue 1 title with a 2-1 win at AJ Auxerre although the match descended into chaos as police were called in after local fans pelted the pitch with flares, tomatoes and toilet paper to interrupt the game three times on Sunday.Nigeria’s John Utaka scored the two goals after relegated Auxerre had opened the scoring through Olivier Kapo.Montpellier finished the season on 82 points, leading second-placed Paris St Germain, who won 2-1 at Lorient, by three points.Eden Hazard scored three in his farewell game as third-placed Lille, who will be in the Champions League playoffs next season, beat Nancy 4-1.Olympique Lyon, who had nothing to gain or lose, finished fourth with a 4-3 defeat by visitors Nice.Girondins Bordeaux, fifth, secured a Europa League spot with a 3-2 victory at St Etienne. Dijon and Caen were relegated to Ligue 2 with AJ Auxerre."It’s incredible, I can hardly find the words,” Montpellier keeper Geoffrey Jourdren told Canal + as fans descended on to the pitch to celebrate the title.  Montpellier, in only their third top-flight season after a five-year spell in Ligue 2, had climbed up the Ligue 1 ladder thanks to their free-flowing, inspired football and made sure they were rewarded for their hard work and belief on Sunday