Valenciennes on the up

Valenciennes continued their free-scoring ways to move up to fourth with a convincing 3-1 victory over Sochaux.

Valenciennes continued their free-scoring ways to move up to fourth in Ligue 1 with a convincing 3-1 victory over Sochaux. Foued Kadir's 11th-minute strike was followed by a brace from Daniel Pujol that took Valenciennes to 23 goals for the season, and to within four points of the summit. Sebastien Roudet registered for Sochaux but only after they had gone 3-0 down and the visitors remain rooted in the bottom three. Sochaux had the first sight of goal with Roy Contout's shot forcing Nicolas Penneteau into an uncomfortably punched save, but from then on the first half was all Valenciennes. Kadir opened the scoring after 11 minutes, curling in a free-kick from the edge of the area. Gael Danic brought a decent save out of Simon Pouplin to earn a corner, and the goalkeeper was busy again to deny Mathieu Dossevi as he raced through on goal. The second goal came in the 26th minute at the end of a fine Valenciennes move, Kadir flicking the ball to Pujol to force home a low drive. Pouplin did well to prevent a third before the break, saving Pujol's powerful effort in the 39th minute and then denying Kadir and Danic before the whistle blew for half-time. Sochaux got a rare sight of goal in the 50th minute but Isimat Mirin deflected Jerome Roussillon's shot away for a corner, and Valenciennes resumed their attacks. Pouplin saved from Dossevi, but was beaten for a third time in the 59th minute. It was another swift Valenciennes attack, the ball zipping about and flicked on by Kadir for Pujol to cut the shot back across goal. It took only two minutes for Sochaux to register a response as Roussillon crossed for Roudet to score, but Valenciennes saw the match out comfortably.