PARIS, May 8 - Olympique Lyon clinched their
fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title with a 2-1 win over AC Ajaccio
thanks to goals by Sidney Govou and Claudio Cacapa on Sunday.
Lyon have an unassailable 11-point lead over second-placed
Lille in the 20-team table with three matches remaining.
The champions dominated most of the match but had to wait
for a diving header from striker Govou in the 35th minute to
open the scoring.
AC Ajaccio goalkeeper Stephane Porato was outstanding as he
saved a penalty and a dangerous freekick in the first half.
The Corsican side played the second half with 10 men after
defender Mamadou Seck was sent off for deliberate handball in
the 42nd minute.
But striker Johan Dumont pulled a goal back for the visitors
just after the interval before Lyon captain Claudio Cacapa
scored what proved to be the winner in the 62nd minute.
Lyon join the former giants of French club football, St
Etienne and Olympique Marseille, as the only clubs to win four
league titles in succession.
Les Verts were in a class of their own from 1967 to 1970
while Marseille dominated between 1989 and 1992.
AC Ajaccio's defeat leaves them 16th in the standings, only
one point above the relegation zone.