AS Monaco on Friday came from behind against Nantes to rescue a 2-2 draw in an action-packed thriller in Ligue 1.
Nantes took a two-goal lead through Matthis Abline after 12 minutes and Kelvin Amian early in the second half, but Breel Embolo after 52 minutes and Mohammed Salisu seven minutes later leveled.
Nantes captain Nicolas Pallois saved a shot off the line with 10 minutes left, while at the other end Moses Simon saw his shot smack the bar minutes from time.
Photo: AFP
“We lost two points tonight, I think,” Nantes midfielder Jonathan Lepenant said. “It’s very frustrating because we’re leading 2-0 and then we lose two goals very quickly. They’re avoidable goals.”
The draw lifted Nantes out of the relegation zone and into 14th in the 18-team league, equal on points with Angers SCO and AS St-Etienne.
Monaco were third, two points behind Olympique de Marseille and nine behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Alsewhere, AJ Auxerre and OSC Lille shared the points in a goalless draw.
The result left Lille in fourth place, while Auxerre were ninth.
BUNDESLIGA
Reuters, DORTMUND, Germany
Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s on Friday beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the Bundesliga restart.
Leverkusen scored three times in the opening 19 minutes and controlled the game throughout against their opponents, who were missing half a dozen players due to illness.
SERIE A
AP, ROME
Ten-man SS Lazio on Friday gave up a late goal to Como 1907 and drew 1-1 at home to extend their winless streak to three games in Serie A.
A first-half goal from Boulaye Dia gave the Rome club the lead, but Patrick Cutrone equalized in the 72nd minute when he stooped to head home Gabriel Strefezza’s inviting cross from the right.
LA LIGA
AP, MADRID
Jorge de Frutos’ third goal in two games gave Rayo Vallecano a 2-1 win on Friday over RC Celta de Vigo and stretched their unbeaten home run to 14 games in La Liga.
Adri Embarba put Rayo ahead in the fifth minute when he took advantage of a poor clearance by Vicente Guaita and volleyed home.
Celta equalized 21 minutes later through Borja Iglesias, but Frutos’ shot 18 minutes into the second half sealed all three points for the home side.
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