A highly contentious penalty award allowed Lille to claim their first win of the Ligue 1 season on Friday, Divock Origi’s spot-kick sealing a 1-0 victory against newly-promoted Caen.
Rene Girard’s side finished third last season to qualify for the Champions League, their success based first and foremost on a watertight defence.
And they have yet to concede a goal in the new Ligue 1 campaign, following up a 0-0 draw at home to Metz on the opening day by edging out another of the division’s new boys to set themselves up for next Wednesday’s Champions League play-off first leg at home to Portuguese giants FC Porto.
The game, played 160 kilometres away from Caen in Le Mans because the Normandy side’s own stadium is being used for the World Equestrian Games, appeared to be heading for a stalemate until referee Sebastien Desiage’s decision to award a penalty in the 69th minute.
Origi saw his charge towards goal ended by a superbly-timed challenge from Dennis Appiah just inside the box, but Caen were stunned to see the referee point to the spot and show a straight red card to the unfortunate defender.
