FOOTBALL NEWS FROM Ligue 1
Lens go down after Monaco draw
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Lens were relegated from Ligue 1 this afternoon after only claiming a point at fellow strugglers Monaco.

The visitors had to win and hope results elsewhere went their way but that scenario did not materialise as the draw in the principality coupled with Nancy's 3-0 defeat of Nice saw Lens go down.

Monaco may yet join them as they sit third from bottom, a point behind Nancy with two games to go.

The hosts' hopes of staying up would have been boosted considerably with a win and it looked good for them when they took a 13th-minute lead through Benjamin Moukandjo.

But they were denied at the death when Raphael Varane nodded in an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

Laurent Banide's men started with gusto and only a fantastic reflex save from Lens goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui prevented Park Chu-young from opening the scoring with a sixth-minute diving header.

Monaco did break the deadlock, though, seven minutes later when Chris Malonga played in Moukandjo and he beat Kasraoui from close range.

Varane had a chance at the other end after 25 minutes but put his header, from a Alaeddine Yahia corner, inches over the bar.

Monaco finished the half on the front foot and almost doubled their advantage when Jean-Jacques Gosso crossed for Park to glance a header just wide.

Lens needed goals and poured forward after the break.

Substitute Samba Sow shot just wide while Monaco goalkeeper Sebastien Chabbert did well to keep out a Yohan Demont effort from the edge of the box.

Moukandjo wasted a one-on-one chance with 11 minutes to go before, at the other end, Chabbert produced an astonishing save to parry Eduardo's effort at the far post.

Monaco thought they had held on but there was one final twist as Varane rose highest to nod home - a goal which ultimately mattered little for Lens but could prove critical for Monaco.