Lille 1 - 0 Stade Rennes

Lille 1-0 Stade Rennes

Updated: January 18, 2009, 5:39 PM ET

Substitute Nicolas Fauvergue scored the 75th-minute winner after the home side had squandered several chances to win the game.

Rennes midfielder Bruno Cheyrou was sent-off for a late second booking.

Rennes started positively but Lille clearly posed a counter-attacking threat and forged the first chance 12 minutes in. Michel Bastos teamed up with Emerson for the latter to cross for Pierre-Alain Frau whose weak header was caught by Nicolas Douchez.

Mickael Pagis created a chance after 17 minutes when he crossed for Moussa Sow, whose powerful header was saved brilliantly by Gregory Malicki, who tipped the ball onto the crossbar. Sow followed up and attempted to head home only for Mathieu Debuchy to intervene and head clear.

Frau had another opportunity for Lille in the 25th minute but scuffed his effort, allowing Douchez to make the save - but not before fumbling the ball and having to recover by prodding it to safety.

Debuchy wasted a free header 10 minutes before the break before being forced off after a bad challenge by Sow, who was booked.

Frau had another chance before the half was out when he was picked out by Yohan Cabaye but Douchez saved again.

The action was gritty early in the second half but it was the home side who again created the first noteworthy opening as Bastos wasted a clear chance in space at the back post, putting his effort over the bar.

Douchez saved Rennes yet again when Frau got on the end of Ludovic Obraniak's pass.

The breakthrough finally came 15 minutes from time.

Fauvergue, on for Frau, played a one-two with Bastos and then saw his shot deflect off defender Petter Hansson and beyond the despairing Douchez.

Rennes had Cheyrou sent-off for a second booking following a silly challenge while Rennes goalkeeper Malicki's regular sprints upfield in search of an equaliser provided added entertainment.