PARIS (AP) — Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw has tremendous talent. And a bit of good fortune too.
Diaw ensured a third clean sheet in seven French league matches for Clermont on Sunday with a couple of decisive saves in a 0-0 draw with Strasbourg, which dominated throughout and hit the woodwork twice.
The 29-year-old Diaw, who joined Clermont this summer from Lausanne, is experiencing the French league for the first time in his career.
Back in 2015, he was forced to leave Paris Saint-Germain, a club he never played for in the league, following controversy over the publication of a series of messages on social media.
He went through several difficult seasons abroad but has been flawless since the start of this season. Diaw has stopped 16 of the last 17 on-target shots he has faced, according to French league statistics.
On Sunday against Strasbourg, Diaw parried away a long-range volley that seemed headed for the top corner in the first half and blocked an effort from Adrien Thomasson from close range in the 64th.
Thomasson previously hit the crossbar, and Maxime Le Marchand’s header from a free kick in first-half stoppage time also struck the bar.
Le Marchand was sent off for a second yellow card with two minutes left as Strasbourg’s winless run in the league this season was extended to seven matches. It is only the fourth time that Strasbourg has failed to win any of its first opening seven matches. The last time was during the 2005-06 season, and the team was relegated.
Clermont lags nine points behind leader PSG, which defeated Brest 1-0 on Saturday. Strasbourg remains in the relegation zone.
RENNES ROUTS AUXERRE
On a day when goalkeepers took the spotlight, Steve Mandanda delivered the first assist of his long career as Rennes moved up to sixth place with a 5-0 thrashing of Auxerre.
The France international, who joined from Marseille during the offseason, assisted Flavien Tait for Rennes’s fourth goal.
Mandanda retrieved the ball after a corner for Auxerre and kicked it up the field to Tait near the penalty area. Tait then held off Gideon Mensah before slotting home in the 79th.
UNSTOPPABLE LORIENT
Dango Ouattara led Lorient to a 3-2 win over Nantes with a goal and one assist as the Brittany side extended its best start in the French league.
After escaping relegation with one game to spare, Lorient has turned around its fortunes this summer under new coach Regis Le Bris. The club plays enthralling football and the attacking approach has been rewarded with five wins from its seven opening matches.
Sunday’s win against local rival Nantes took Lorient to fourth place, just three points off leader PSG.
Ouattarra has played a crucial role in Lorient’s dream start, with four assists and three goals under his belt already. After Igantius Ganago put the visitors in the lead, Ouattarra leveled with a curled left-footed free kick that left goalkeeper Alban Lafont helpless.
Substitutes Yoann Cathline and Ibrahima Koné also scored for Lorient before Moses Simon ensured a tense finish with a goal in the 85th minute.
Elsewhere, Andy Delort scored the only goal to give Nice a 1-0 win at Ajaccio; Angers defeated Montpellier 2-1 for its first win of the season; and Toulouse ended a run of three straight losses by beating Reims 1-0.
