PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain dropped its first points in the French League when it was held at Reims to 1-1 on Saturday.
After comfortably winning its first four games, PSG needed an equalizer from substitute Ousmane Dembélé in the 68th minute.
The France winger latched onto a pass from midfielder João Neves and got ahead of defender Sergio Akieme to net from a narrow angle. It was his fourth league goal compared to three in 26 league games last season.
Reims led from the ninth minute when Junya Ito found space down the right and crossed to Japanese countryman Keito Nakamura, who got the better of central defender Marquinhos before shooting home.
Reims almost won the game on a counterattack deep into stoppage time but defender Nhoa Sangui shot over.
Unbeaten Marseille can move level on points with PSG if it wins at bitter rival Lyon on Sunday. No visiting Marseille fans will be allowed in Lyon due to fan clashes between rival groups in recent years.
Also on Saturday, Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova found his scoring touch with two first-half goals but it wasn't enough as Lille drew at home with Strasbourg 3-3.
The visitors rallied from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 thanks to goals from Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha and in-form Swedish forward Sebastian Nanasi.
But prolific Canada forward Jonathan David held his nerve to convert a late penalty for Lille, rolling the ball softly down the middle as the goalkeeper dived to his left.
Elsewhere, forward M’Bala Nzola scored six minutes into stoppage time to earn Lens a 1-1 draw at Rennes.
The goal was somewhat the fault of veteran Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who rushed off his line to punch a cross clear but failed to do so and Nzola pounced.
Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo put Rennes ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first half.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
PSG's Bradley Barcola reacts during the French League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain at the the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, eastern France, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG's Ousmane Dembele, center, celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the French League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain at the the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, eastern France, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Reims' Keito Nakamura is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain at the the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, eastern France, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PSG's Ousmane Dembele, second from left, is congratulated after scoring his side's first goal during the French League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain at the the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, eastern France, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
CHICAGO (AP) — MacKenzie Gore struck out nine in seven sparkling innings, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Saturday.
Joey Gallo hit a three-run homer for Washington, which had dropped five in a row. José Tena had three of the Nationals' 12 hits.
Washington played without All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, who was demoted to the minors earlier in the day. Abrams isn't expected to play for the big league team again this season.
“I just want it to be known, it wasn’t performance-based — it’s an internal issue,” manager Dave Martinez said. “I’m not going to give specifics or talk about specifics because I need to keep these guys and everything on the down low. ... I’m going to support CJ. He’s a big part of our Nats family, and he will be. At this point, for me, it’s the right thing to do.”
Gore (10-12) earned his second straight win. The 25-year-old left-hander was working on a no-hitter before Patrick Wisdom connected for his eighth homer with one out in the seventh inning.
Jose Ferrer got three outs before Kyle Finnegan finished the two-hitter for Washington.
Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks (4-12) allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in what potentially could be his last home start at Wrigley Field. Hendricks, who helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series, is eligible for free agency after this season.
Ildemaro Vargas drove in Juan Yepez with a sacrifice fly in the second, and Washington broke it open with four runs in the sixth.
The Nationals put their first three batters on, and Keibert Ruiz chased Hendricks with a sacrifice fly. Gallo then greeted Keegan Thompson with his ninth homer, a drive to right that lifted his team to a 5-0 lead.
Gallo, Vargas, Yepez and Luis García Jr. each had two hits.
UP NEXT
Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (14-3, 3.03 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Sunday’s series finale. RHP Jake Irvin (10-12, 4.07 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Nationals.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Washington Nationals' Joey Gallo, right, celebrates with teammate Luis Garcia Jr., in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Washington Nationals' Joey Gallo celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Washington Nationals' Joey Gallo, center, celebrates with teammates Juan Yepez, left, and Jose Tena, right, after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Washington Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
