French Ligue 1 report: Lorient complete fine comeback

An impressive second-half fightback handed Lorient all three points as they claimed a 3-1 win at Reims on Saturday.

Benjamin Moukandjo gave Reims the lead three minutes before the break but that was as good as it got for them as Lorient surged away in the second half.

Lamine Gassama, Raphael Guerreiro and Benjamin Jeannot all netted for Les Merlus, who condemned Reims to a fifth league game without a win.

Guerreiro had the first chance of the evening as he curled over from distance but Reims came back and Moukandjo got on the end of a Diego cross with a crisp volley but Benjamin Lecomte made the save.

Romain Philippoteaux was making his debut for Lorient and he nearly made a big impact as he beat two defenders on a mazy run and fed Walid Mesloub but the Algerian fired wide.

It was the home side who took the lead just before the break courtesy of Moukandjo who netted at the back post from a beautiful Diego cross.

Lecomte denied Moukandjo as half-time approached but Lorient were nearly level in first-half stoppage-time as Jeannot's shot hit the bar.

Lorient were back on terms four minutes after the interval as Philippoteaux found Gassama to lob Johnny Placide who had made a mess of dispossessing Jeannot.

And just after the hour they were ahead, Guerreiro striding into the box and curling a beautiful left-footed effort past Placide.

Nicolas de Preville was within inches of equalising at the other end but missed the target and Jeannot made him regret it five minutes from the end.

Guerreiro freed the striker in the penalty area and he coolly slotted home to seal the win.