Khlifa hits hat trick as Evian beats Montpellier

Khlifa put Evian ahead in the 30th minute when he coolly stroked the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren, but the home side led 2-1 at halftime thanks to goals from midfielder Marco Estrada and striker Souleymane Camara.

Montpellier twice hit the crossbar before Khlifa scored with two clinical finishes — in the 62nd and 89th — beating Jourdren both times with powerful curling shots.

"Conceding three goals at home is upsetting. If some of the players take themselves for world champions .... I'm disappointed and angry, we have to get back to basics," Montpellier coach Rene Girard said after the defeat that leaves his team languishing in 13th spot. "If you're not able to understand certain things playing at this level that is worrying."

Evian's caretaker coach, Pascal Dupraz, took a different view of the match.

"If Montpellier conceded three goals it's because they came up against a team and a player in a state of grace," Dupraz said. "I'm trying to restore confidence to the team before handing it over (to a new coach). Because when the directors decide to replace me, they will, and there's nothing I'll be able to do about it."

The win moved Evian out of the relegation zone.

Also Saturday, Reims moved provisionally into fourth place after another beating Nice 3-1 at home thanks to two late goals from substitute Gaetan Courtet.

Brazilian midfielder Diego Rigonato put Reims ahead in the 16th, before Argentine midfielder Dario Cvitanich leveled in the 63rd. But Courtet struck in the 86th and in injury time to seal a fourth straight home win in the league for Reims.

Earlier, Khlifa's equalizer came after a mistake from Montpellier center back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, whose misdirected headed clearance landed at the feet of Khlifa. He still had a lot to do, cushioning the ball expertly before curling it into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Montpellier pressed for a winning goal. Defender Daniel Congre had his header cleared off the line by Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah, midfielder Younes Belhanda hit the crossbar with a free kick, and substitute Gaetan Charbonnier also struck the bar.