Divock Origi scores as Lille beat Nantes

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:31 am
Divock Origi is congratulated by his teammates after netting the opener for Lille.
FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/Getty Images

Lille continued their good start to the Ligue 1 season with an impressive 2-0 win against Nantes, who were made to pay for not making the most of their dominance in the first half.

Second-half goals from Divock Origi and Marco Lopes earned Rene Girard's unbeaten side the spoils as they moved on to 11 points from five games.

Nantes, meanwhile, remain on seven points after slumping to their second loss.

Both teams enjoyed some goalmouth action early on, with Lille striker Nolan Roux forcing a save from Maxime Dupe inside 10 minutes following some good work from Origi before Olivier Veigneau fired over at the other end.

Nantes defender Papy Djilobodji missed an attempted bicycle kick moments later before the visitors had a penalty claim turned down when Serge Gakpe went down under David Rozenhal's challenge inside the hosts' area.

Les Canaries maintained their promising start as the first half wore on and Gakpe wasted a great opportunity when he failed to apply the finish after Vincent Enyeama spilled Alejandro Bedoya's goal-bound header.

Fittingly, Nantes went the closest to opening the scoring inside the first 45 minutes when Jordan Veretout burst forward from midfield before firing a powerful shot beyond Enyeama only to see it come back off the post.

The visitors, though, paid the price for not converting their first-half domination into goals as Lille scored twice in quick succession at the start of the second half to take the win.

Their first goal came just 60 seconds after the restart, with Rio Mavuba finding Florent Balmont whose pinpoint cross was powered home at the far post by Origi for his second of the season.

Lille's roaring start to the second period continued as Girard's men doubled their lead shortly before the 50-minute mark.

On-loan Liverpool striker Origi turned provider this time round and his pass on the counter found half-time substitute Lopes who coolly sent Dupe the wrong way with a confident finish.

The hosts continued to press and could have added a third when Balmont's powerful drive threatened to sneak inside Dupe's post until the young goalkeeper got down to turn it away for a corner.

The introduction of Lopes at half-time proved to be an inspired move by Girard as the Manchester City loanee continued to taunt the visitors, drawing another smart save from Dupe with an effort from just inside the box before teeing up Idrissa Gueye who was denied yet again by the busy Nantes stopper.