Ligue 1: Metz relegated after 4-0 defeat to Lorient

Metz were relegated straight back to Ligue 2 on Saturday as they suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Lorient.

Last season's second-tier champions needed to win all three of their remaining games to have any chance of staying up but were simply blown away by Lorient who are now five points clear of the drop zone with two games remaining.

Mehdi Mostefa opened the scoring and Romain Philippoteaux, Lamine Kone and Jordan Ayew added to the tally.

It was Metz who had the first chance in the third minute when Ibrahim Ndong lost possession to Florent Malouda in midfield, allowing the former Chelsea man to surge forward and bring a save out of Benjamin Lecomte.

Philippoteaux then released Ayew down the other end and Anthony Mfa Mezui did well to save, although it was not long before Lorient had the lead.

Walid Mesloub and Philippoteaux combined in the 12th minute and, when the latter found Mostefa in the box, he made no mistake with a close-range header.

Lorient were enjoying the better of possession and when Raphael Guerreiro took advantage of some slack defending to free Mesloub, Mfa Mezui again had to do well to prevent a second.

Ayew brought another save from the goalkeeper as the pressure increased and 10 minutes before the break, Lorient had their second.

Philippoteaux and Ndong exchanged passes and when the latter retrieved possession in the penalty box he finished from close-range.

Metz had their best chance just after the break as Bouna Sarr's curling free-kick was saved by Lecomte and the keeper did well again to snaffle Modibo Maiga's rebound.

But the game was as good as over in the 56th minute when Kone headed home Mesloub's corner to make it three.

Ahmed Kashi saw a long-range shot saved by Lecomte but five minutes from time Yann Jouffre found Syew who rounded the goalkeeper and completed the scoring.