Lens relegated after draw at Monaco

Posted Monday, May 16, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

PARIS (AFP) - Lens were relegated from France's top division on Sunday, two games before the end of the season, after a 1-1 draw at Monaco and victories for two of their relegation rivals.

Monaco took a 14th-minute lead through Cameroon striker Benjamin Moukandjo, who dispatched a beautifully measured left-wing centre from Chris Malonga with a deft half-volley.

Teenage defender Raphael Varane, 18, equalised with an injury-time header, but although it was not enough to keep Lens out of Ligue 2, it did suck the home side into the relegation zone.

Lens, promoted from the second tier in 2009, endured a tumultuous season, with experienced Romanian coach Laszlo Boloni unable to stop the early-season rot after replacing Jean-Guy Wallemme in January.

Lens' fate was sealed thanks to victories for Caen and Nancy, the former winning 2-0 at home to Montpellier, the latter crushing fellow strugglers Nice 3-0 on their synthetic home pitch.

The congestion at the bottom of the table means that just seven points separate seventh-placed Lorient and third-bottom Monaco.

Nancy and Brest, who host Lyon on Monday, are a point above Monaco, with Nice a point further ahead in 15th.

With leaders Lille not playing due to their French Cup final win against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, champions Marseille can close to within a point of top spot if they win at Lorient in Sunday's late game.

Double-chasing Lille host Sochaux on Wednesday, when PSG are at Bordeaux.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Rennes won 2-1 at Saint-Etienne, for whom Bakary Sako scored direct from a corner kick, to end a dismal nine-game winless run and re-affirm their grip on fifth place.

Rock-bottom Arles-Avignon picked up only their second win of the season by prevailing 1-0 at home to Toulouse, who are now just three points above the drop zone.

An 87th-minute equaliser from South Korean striker Jung Jo-Gook, meanwhile, earned Auxerre a 1-1 draw at Valenciennes.