PARIS, Sept 30 — Olympique de Marseille missed the chance to move into the top four in Ligue 1 when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Stade Rennais yesterday, their third consecutive tie.

Rennes arrived in Marseille fresh from beating Paris St. Germain 2-0 away from home in midweek and looked to be on course for another significant away win when M'Baye Niangan slid in to turn a cross into the net in the 19th minute.

However, the strike was given as an own goal by Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai, who got the final touch.

Andre Villas-Boas's side pulled level seven minutes into the second half with a header from defender Duje Caleta-Car from a corner.

Marseille are fifth in the table on 13 points after eight games, five behind leaders and champions PSG. Rennes are eighth on 12.

Struggling 10-times champions St. Etienne earned a much-needed victory, beating Nimes 1-0 away from home with a second-half header from Mathieu Debuchy.

St. Etienne had to play the final quarter of an hour with 10 men after Romain Hamouma was sent off for two bookings but they held on for a first win in seven games, staying 19th but moving on to eight points.

Racing Strasbourg beat Montpellier 1-0 at home to go 13th on nine points. — Reuters