FOOTBALL NEWS FROM Ligue 1
Marseille and Caen draw 2 - 2
Tweet
Caen threw away a two-goal lead but ultimately did enough to ensure their Ligue 1 survival on the final day of the season.

Monaco's defeat against Lyon - as well as losses for Brest and Nice - meant Caen's result was immaterial in the final reckoning, which is perhaps just as well as they demonstrated the defensive frailty which landed them in trouble in the first place.

They looked inspired in the first half, going ahead through Yohan Mollo in the sixth minute and Niang Mbaye just before the break.

But Marseille snatched a point as Loic Remy grabbed a second-half brace, the second with only two minutes left to go.

The visitors, already settled in second place, might have had a first-minute lead when Mathieu Valbuena's free-kick found Vitorino Hilton just in front of goal, but Alexis Thebaux was at full stretch to keep it out.

Instead, Caen led six minutes in, with Romain Hamouma crossed for Mollo to fire under Steve Mandanda from close range.

Marseille might have been level six minutes later, but Gregory Leca cleared off the line after Andre Ayew beat Thebaux.

Caen looked to be home and dry in their survival bid a minute before half-time when Benjamin Nivet freed Mbaye to score from close range.

However, a Marseille fightback would leave them relying on results elsewhere - and so it proved.

The first goal came in the 68th minute when Remy breaking from deep before finding the finish.

Alexandre Raineau almost scored an own goal in the 77th minute, but Marseille got their equaliser eventually, with Remy heading home from Taye Taiwo's cross with two minutes to go.