Saint-Etienne wins at Monaco to keep the pressure on Lyon

PARIS (AP) — Saint-Etienne beat struggling Monaco 3-2 Sunday to keep the pressure on local rival Lyon in the fight for third place in the French league.

Third spot secures a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League next season, and Saint-Etienne moved above Lyon on goal difference.

Lyon was at home to Lille later Sunday, where a defeat for Lyon would effectively guarantee second place for Lille and automatic Champions League qualification with three games remaining after this weekend.

But Monaco is in trouble in 17th place and only three points above 18th-place Caen in the relegation-promotion playoff position.

Winger Remy Cabella did the damage for Saint-Etienne, scoring with a sharp volley to put the visitors 2-1 up in the 71st minute and then setting up forward Arnaud Nordin for a powerful header 10 minutes later.

Gelson Martins created a goal for Brazilian striker Vinicius, but his injury-time goal came too late for Monaco.

Martins put Monaco ahead in the 18th, only for defender Fode Ballo-Toure to gift Saint-Etienne an equalizer by volleying in an own-goal in the 59th.

OTHER MATCHES

Amiens climbed one place above Monaco after a 1-1 draw at Montpellier, which stayed fifth ahead of Marseille on goal difference.

Nantes is finishing the season in championship-winning form, albeit with nothing left to play for. A 3-0 home win against Dijon made it five straight victories and moved coach Vahid Halilhodzic’s side up to 11th place.

French Cup winner Rennes dropped to 13th after a 2-2 draw at Toulouse.

League champion Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 at home to Nice on Saturday and has won only one of its last seven games in all competitions.