French Ligue 1

Valenciennes 2-1 Brest

Brest remained just two points clear of Ligue 1's relegation zone after losing to Valenciennes at the Stade du Hainaut.

First-half goals from Mathieu Dossevi and Rudy Mater were enough to secure a win that leaves VA 10th in the table.

Charlison Benschop hit the post for Brest in the second half but they had only Florian Raspentino's late goal for consolation.

Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau saved Geoffrey Dernis' early shot before his side took the lead in the ninth minute.

Maor Melikson's shot was saved by Alexis Thebaux but Dossevi followed up to open the scoring.

Penneteau denied Abdulwahid Sissoko and his efforts were matched by Thebaux, who parried away Carlos Sanchez's left-foot drive.

But the visiting keeper had a moment to forget just before half-time when he hopelessly misjudged Mater's dipping long-range effort and the ball bounced in front of him and past his flailing leg before nestling in the net.

Brest almost pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when Jonathan Ayite teed up Benschop, who hammered a 20-yard effort against the upright.

Melikson's free-kick was headed over by Sanchez but it was a rare second-half chance for Valenciennes, who were happy to defend their two-goal lead.

Benjamin Angoua deflected another Benschop strike behind for a corner, but the visitors had to wait until stoppage time to get on the scoresheet.

Ayite threaded a neat pass through for substitute Raspentino who burst into the penalty area and finished low past Penneteau, but the goal had no impact on the result.