PARIS (AP) — Saint-Etienne won 1-0 at Angers on Wednesday for a badly needed victory but stayed in last place in the French league.
Les Verts have won a record 10 French titles — one more than current league leader Paris Saint-Germain and 1993 Champions League winner Marseille — but this was only their third win of the season.
It came courtesy of an own goal from defender Batista Mendy.
After 22 of 38 rounds, Saint-Etienne is two points behind 19th-place Lorient and five points away from safety. The bottom two are relegated while the side finishing 18th enters a promotion-relegation playoff with the team placing third in the second division.
Angers defender Ismael Traore had a header saved following a corner after two minutes as the home side started well.
But Saint-Etienne took the lead shortly before the break when midfielder Yvann Macon's cross was turned into his own net by Mendy.
Midfielder Arnaud Nordin went clean through for Saint-Etienne midway through the second half but Montenegro goalkeeper Danijel Petkovic thwarted him.
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