Champions Lille squander chance as rivals falter

PARIS: French champions Lille failed to exploit slipups by several of their rivals after throwing away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at home to second-bottom Auxerre on Saturday.

With leaders Montpellier drawing and St Etienne, Lyon and Marseille all losing, Lille had a huge opportunity to tighten their grip on third place but despite leading 2-0 with 10 minutes to go, they were unable to defend their advantage.

Lyon sank to their 10th defeat of the season at Nancy and now find themselves seven points behind Lille in the battle for a Champions League place, seriously compromising their chances of reaching next season’s competition.

Marseille, meanwhile, are a point behind Lyon and Rennes in eighth place, although they retain a game in hand at Evian tomorrow.

Eden Hazard had set Lille on course for victory, breaking the deadlock in the 34th minute with a low free-kick from the left that crept in at the back post and then netting a 63rd-minute penalty after he had been fouled by Willy Boly.

The hosts had seen Mauro Cetto sent off following a last-man foul on Dennis Oliech shortly after Hazard’s opener, but Auxerre conceded their numerical advantage when Anthony Le Tallec saw red for a high challenge on Benoit Pedretti.

However, Ben Sahar reduced the arrears with 10 minutes to play and four minutes later, Cedric Heng-bart equalised with a header from a corner. —