Comfortable victory for Lille

Second-half strikes from Marko Basa and Dimitri Payet saw Lille to a 2-0 victory over Toulouse.

Second-half strikes from Marko Basa and Dimitri Payet saw Lille to a 2-0 victory over a Toulouse side who had goalkeeper Ali Ahamada to thank that the score was not more emphatic at the Stade Borne de l'Espoir. Lille had scored just once in their last three matches heading into tonight's clash and - without registering a victory in that time - were desperate to beat a Toulouse side who themselves had not won in three. The home side made a bright start and Ahamada was forced into his first save of the evening keeping out Aurelien Chedjou's bicycle kick. After 38 minutes a loose back pass by Franck Tabanou played Nolan Roux in on goal with the defender thankful his goalkeeper was quick off his line to clear. A minute after the restart the visitors enjoyed their first effort of the night but from just inside the box Daniel Braaten fired his first-time volley over the bar. And after 54 minutes they were behind as Basa rose highest to head a Payet cross beyond Ahamada. Toulouse forced Steeve Elana into his first save five minutes later as Serge Aurier surged down the right, with his left-footed effort gathered by the home stopper. With 20 minutes left the home side almost doubled their advantage as Payet and Basa combined with the latter's header brilliantly kept out by Ahamada. Toulouse came as close as they had in the match 75 minutes in after good play by Aurier set up Emmanuel Riviere, but with the goalkeeper wrong-footed he blazed his effort over the bar. They were made to pay eight minutes later as Payet this time got on the end of a cross, meeting Ronny Rodelin's cross to volley home.