Meslin makes Monaco pay

AS Monaco FC missed the chance to go ten points clear at the top of Ligue 1 as an added-time penalty from Christophe Meslin gave OGC Nice a 1-1 draw in a rearranged league game tonight.

Hopes dashed
Dider Deschamps's side had looked on course to open a ten-point gap over nearest challengers Paris Saint-Germain FC as Fernando Morientes opened the scoring moments before half-time, but Meslin's late spot-kick meant they had to settle for a single point.

Morientes pounces
In a tight game, Monaco took the lead late in the first half, as Spanish striker Morientes collected Lucas Bernardi's cross and shot into the net. However, the leaders were reduced to ten men a minute before the hour when defender Patrice Evra was dismissed for a professional foul on Meslin, but it seemed they had done enough to win, especially when the visitors lost midfield player Everson to a second yellow card two minutes from time.

Late drama
However, in the closing stages, Monaco defender Sébastien Squillaci handled the ball inside the penalty area, and Meslin kept his head to score from the spot and earn Nice a point.

Frau on fire
In tonight's other game, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard joined champions Olympique Lyonnais and AJ Auxerre on 38 points – nine behind Monaco – as Pierre-Alain Frau scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Montpellier Hérault SC.

First-half strikes
The Sochaux striker opened the scoring after 14 minutes, but the home side hit back quickly and drew level eight minutes later as Habib Bamogo equalised from the penalty spot. However, Frau restored the visitors' lead a minute before the half-hour, and effectively sealed the points in the final minute of the first half, scoring his and his side's third.