Saint-Etienne beats Strasbourg 2-1 in French league

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PARIS (AP) — Robert Beric played a part in both goals as Saint-Etienne beat Strasbourg 2-1 Wednesday to move into fourth place in the French league.

The Slovenia striker headed Saint-Etienne in front in the fifth minute, then set up center half Loic Perrin for a header in the 27th.

Striker Nuno Da Costa pulled a goal back in the second half for Strasbourg, which stayed in ninth place.

Saint-Etienne is three points behind third-place Lyon, with third securing a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

In Wednesday's other match, midfielder Valentin Rongier's late penalty was enough to give Nantes a 1-0 win at struggling Caen. The moves Nantes up to 14th while Caen is mired in 19th.

Fans of both sides observed a minute's applause for Emiliano Sala and chanted his name. The Argentine striker died when a single-engine aircraft carrying him and pilot David Ibbotson crashed in the English Channel last month.

The plane was flying from Nantes to Cardiff, where Sala was due to start a new career playing for the Premier League club.

Sala played half of a season for Caen, on loan from Bordeaux, before joining Nantes in 2015.