Toulouse beat Arles-Avignon to hold the lead

AP - Daniel Braaten’s third goal in three matches helped Toulouse edge Arles-Avignon 2-1 on Saturday and keep the lead in the French league.

Defending champion Marseille beat Lorient 2-0 to earn its first win this season.

Norway international Braaten beat goalkeeper Vincent Plante with a low shot in the 36th minute before setting up midfielder Etienne Didot for his team’s second goal in the 61st.

Franck Dja Djedje scored a consolation goal in the 64th for last-place Arles-Avignon.

Toulouse has made a perfect start to top the standings with nine points while Marseille has just three points after three rounds.

Also on Saturday, it was: Lyon 1, Brest 0; Nice 1, Nancy 1; Rennes 0, Saint-Etienne 0; Lens 2, Monaco 2.

In Marseille, defender Gabriel Heinze converted a rebound in the sixth minute after goalkeeper Lionel Cappone saved a header from Andre Ayew.

Defender Taye Taiwo sealed the win with a low strike in the 72nd.

In Lyon, midfielder Jean Makoun scored from close range in the 19th off a

pass from Jimmy Briand.

In Nice, midfielder Emerse Fae found the net for the hosts with a half-volley in the 26th.

But Nancy forward Paul Alo’o Efoulou equalized in the 85th.

Nancy midfielder Landry N’Guemo was red-carded in the 90th for a violent

tackle on Fae.

In Lens, Daniel Niculae picked his spot from 25 meters to fire home a powerful strike and put Monaco ahead in the 19th.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a second goal with a volley in the 69th.

Lens got back into the match with an own-goal from Monaco defender Adriano

in the 73rd before Sebastien Roudet beat goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier in the 83rd to salvage a draw for the hosts.

Auxerre played Valenciennes later Saturday.

On Sunday, Montpellier takes on Caen, Lille visits Sochaux and Paris

Saint-Germain faces Bordeaux.