Survival boost for Kadewere

ZIMBABWE international striker Tino Kadewere and Nantes escaped from thirdplaced Brest with a goalless draw on Saturday night to boost their hopes of staying in the French Ligue 1.

The point earned took Nantes to 33 points from 32 games, four ahead of Metz who occupy the final relegation slot.

With only two games remaining in the season, Metz’s defeat means Nantes now need to win their next game and be safe.

Metz, who face champions PSG in their final game, had the opportunity to capitalise on Nantes’ draw and even led Rennes 2-1 at halftime before conceding two second half goals and lose the match.

Brest, who have qualified for Europe for the first time, are desperate to secure a topfour finish to earn a Champions League spot as they sit third on 57 points, two clear of Lille, who face Kadewere’s parent club Olympique Lyonnais today.

Kadewere returned to the starting line-up and played 90 minutes.

Elsewhere in France, Wissam Ben Yedder’s brace helped AS Monaco strengthen their hold on second place in Ligue 1 with a 4-1 home win over relegation battling Clermont on Saturday, leaving the visitors rooted to the bottom of the table.

Monaco have 61 points with two games left, nine behind Paris St Germain, who have already secured the league title, and four ahead of Brest, who drew 0-0 with Nantes.

Monaco opened the scoring in the 16th minute when a headed clearance fell to Takumi Minamino who had time to tee up his shot from outside the area before curling the ball into the top corner.

Clermont levelled after 34 minutes, with Muhammed Cham tapping home from close range but Monaco were back in front three minutes later when Breel Embolo hit a first time shot to the far corner from a Ben

Yedder pass.

Monaco extended their lead 12 minutes after the break. Minamino’s ball into the area was mis-hit by defender Andy Pelmard leaving Ben Yedder with the easy task of firing past the keeper. Ben Yedder netted again three minutes from time.

Clermont are bottom of the table on 25 points, four behind Metz who lost 3-2 at Rennes on Saturday.

Metz, who dropped to 16th, could have condemned Clermont to relegation to Ligue 2, but were unable to beat Rennes at home after Arnaud Kalimuendo’s last-minute strike in stoppage time.