Daily Times

PARIS: AS Monaco missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 after Lorient’s Romain Faivre scored a late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw in a game that saw defender Benjamin Mendy make his return to professional football on Sunday. With Monaco leading 2-1 and looking well set to seal all three points, Isaak Toure rose above their defence in the box to head the ball down for Faivre, who volleyed home in the seventh minute of added time. The draw means Monaco are on 11 points after five games, one point ahead of second-placed Brest — who won 2-1 at Reims — while defending champions Paris St Germain are a point further behind in fifth. Lorient, who lost 3-0 at promoted Le Havre before the international break, made an explosive start when Aiyegun Tosin opened the scoring inside two minutes.

Eli Junior Kroupi capitalised on Monaco’s high line and released the Nigerian striker, who displayed his pace and power to shrug off a challenge and slip the ball past the keeper to score. Monaco equalised in scintillating fashion 15 minutes later with a well-worked team goal, a sweeping move ending with Youssouf Fofana chipping the ball to Aleksandr Golovin, who controlled the lob and scored. The visitors then took the lead in the second half through substitute Folarin Balogun as the 22-year-old — who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals for Reims last season — squeezed his shot in at the near post for his first Monaco goal before Faivre levelled. Mendy, who was acquitted of rape and attempted rape by a British court in July, came on as a substitute at wing back for the final 20 minutes. The 29-year-old last played for Manchester City in August 2021. He signed for Lorient on a two-year deal.