Monaco miss chance to close gap

AFP, PARIS: Monaco missed an opportunity to edge closer towards the Champions League places on Wednesday after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to second-placed Caen in Ligue 1. Argentine striker Guido Carrillo scored his first goal in the French top flight following his summer arrival from Estudiantes with a thumping 56th-minute header at the Stade Louis II.
But Caen levelled four minutes from time through Ronny Rodelin as the gap between runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain and the rest of the pack remained 13 points. Caen goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre praised his team’s resolve as the Lower Normandy outfit, whose lone European appearance was in the 1992-93 UEFA Cup, picked up a creditable point in the principality.
Saint-Etienne saw their chance of cracking the top three pass them by after they were beaten 1-0 at Lille, a result that still left the home side a point from safety.
Yassine Benzia’s spectacular volley on the hour mark handed Lille their first win in seven attempts as new boss Frederic Antonetti marked his first home match in charge with three welcome points. Earlier, top-flight newcomers Gazelec Ajaccio continued on their remarkable upward path with a 2-0 victory at in-form Montpellier.
Goals from Jacques Zoua and John Tshibumbu guided the islanders to a fifth win in six matches and up to 13th place.

Monaco miss chance to close gap

AFP, PARIS: Monaco missed an opportunity to edge closer towards the Champions League places on Wednesday after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to second-placed Caen in Ligue 1. Argentine striker Guido Carrillo scored his first goal in the French top flight following his summer arrival from Estudiantes with a thumping 56th-minute header at the Stade Louis II. But Caen levelled four minutes from time through Ronny Rodelin as the gap between runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain and the rest of the pack remained 13 points. Caen goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre praised his teams resolve as the Lower Normandy outfit, whose lone European appearance was in the 1992-93 UEFA Cup, picked up a creditable point in the principality. Saint-Etienne saw their chance of cracking the top three pass them by after they were beaten 1-0 at Lille, a result that still left the home side a point from safety. Yassine Benzias spectacular volley on the hour mark handed Lille their first win in seven attempts as new boss Frederic Antonetti marked his first home match in charge with three welcome points. Earlier, top-flight newcomers Gazelec Ajaccio continued on their remarkable upward path with a 2-0 victory at in-form Montpellier. Goals from Jacques Zoua and John Tshibumbu guided the islanders to a fifth win in six matches and up to 13th place.