PARIS (AP) — Veteran coach Antoine Kombouaré got off to a winning start with his latest club as Paris FC picked up a much-needed 1-0 home win against Nice.
The 62-year-old former defender is at his 10th club as coach. Four years ago, he saved Nantes from relegation and won the French Cup.
Zimbabwe midfielder Marshall Munetsi scored midway through the first half for Paris FC to move up to 14th place. Nice dropped to 15th.
"The victory is beautiful because it was built on suffering and pain. Nice caused us a lot of problems; we were sometimes on the limit, but we didn't crack," Kombouaré said. "This match was about recovery, about redemption, about fightback."
Paris FC has tough away trips next at Lyon and Strasbourg.
Veteran striker Ciro Immobile, the Italian league's multiple top scorer, is still seeking his first goal for Paris FC after joining during the winter transfer window.
Late winner lifts Lille
Three days after scoring the decisive goal in extra time to qualify Lille for the last 16 of the Europa League, defender Nathan Ngoy grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Lille beat struggling Nantes 1-0 to stay in fifth place. Nantes is 17th.
After a corner from the right was helped on three minutes into added time, Belgian defender Ngoy controlled the ball before shooting past goalkeeper Anthony Lopes for the first French league goal of his Lille career.
Metz suffers home defeat
Rock-bottom Metz lost 1-0 at home to Brest, which had left back Daouda Guindo sent off midway through the first half. Imposing striker Ludovic Ajorque grabbed the winner.
With Metz staring relegation in the face, the club's two main Ultras groups — Horda Frénétik and Gruppa Metz — held a protest march before the game.
Lorient holds Auxerre to draw
Senegal striker Bamba Dieng scored twice as Lorient twice came from behind in a 2-2 home draw with Auxerre. Defender Marvin Senaya scored in the first minute and Haiti forward Josué Casimir got the other Auxerre goal.