Monaco miss their chance

By Chris Burke

AS Monaco FC spurned the chance to move back into the top three places in Ligue 1 by dropping points in a breathtaking 2-2 draw away against AJ Auxerre, after third-placed LOSC Lille Métropole drew 1-1 at home with Toulouse FC.

European ambitions
Eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Didier Deschamps' Monaco have set their sights on qualifying for next season's edition and were on course to climb into third when captain Julien Rodriguez flicked in Ernesto Chevantόn's free-kick at the end of the first-half. Fifth-placed Auxerre have European ambitions of their own, though, and drew level through Luigi Pieroni nine minutes after the restart.

Roma saves
François Modesto restored Monaco's lead from another Chevantόn dead-ball just two minutes later, and the principality club's goalkeeper Flavio Roma pulled off fantastic saves from Arnaud Gonzalez and Bonaventure Kalou before the tide turned again with 13 minutes to go. Kanga Akalé was brought down in the area and Jean-Sébastien Jaurès wrong-footed Roma from the spot to guarantee Auxerre a share of the spoils and keep themselves within three points of Monaco, although both sides remain without a win since January.

Dry spell
Auxerre's UEFA Cup opponents Lille are also struggling with their league form and have now gone six games without a victory, despite taking the lead against sixth-placed Toulouse when Peter Odemwingie turned in Christophe Landrin's cross on 61 minutes. Lille midfield player Mathieu Chalmé was sent off in the 72nd minute, and Toulouse striker Daniel Moreira volleyed in the equaliser almost immediately afterwards. Therresult leaves Lille three points behind Olympique de Marseille and a further eight back from leaders Olympique Lyonnais.