David N'Gog put a penalty miss behind him to score the only goal as Reims secured a 1-0 win over Lille in Ligue 1 this evening.
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Lille could have opened the scoring just moments after kickoff as Eric Bautheac tried to rifle the ball in from a Sofiane Boufal corner, but the midfielder saw his effort kept out by the post, while Junior Tallo sent the rebound over.
The visitors continued to look the more likely in the opening stages of the match as Tallo saw another effort saved, before Yassine Benzia also had a shot kept out by Johny Placide.
The home side had their first chance of the evening midway through the first half when Nicolas de Preville was brought down by Djibril Sidibe in the penalty area, but David N'Gog saw his resulting spot kick saved by Mike Maignan, before Antoine Devaux's follow-up was blocked on the line.
Reims continued to see more of the ball as half time approached, but Prince Oniangue saw his long-range finish blocked, before N'Gog was denied by the keeper for a second time.
Chances were scarce in the opening 10 minutes of the first half, but the home side finally broke the deadlock shortly before the hour mark as Frederic Bulot broke free down the left before crossing in to N'Gog, who headed in at the near post.
Lille soon started to pose a threat down the other end as they tried to get back on level terms, but Bautheaux had a drive from outside the box saved, while Lenny Nangis was unable to keep his finish on target.
Odair Fortes could have doubled the home side's advantage with 15 minutes remaining, unleashing a powerful strike from long range after Oniangue set him up with a long ball out from the back, but the finish was blocked.
Lille were still pushing for the equaliser as the match headed into the final 10 minutes, but Yassine Benzia's strike was blocked, before Sehrou Guirassy sliced the ball wide from close range after Benzia played the ball in.
Bulot had a chance to put the victory beyond doubt for Reims with five minutes to go, attempting to blast the ball into the roof of the net from close range after Oniangue crossed the ball in, but the keeper was alert to the danger.
The result moves Reims up to third in the table, just two points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, while Lille stay 13th.
Sian Cowper
