Falcao earns draw for Monaco

PARIS: Radamel Falcao scored an injury-time equaliser to snatch Monaco a 2-2 draw with a Mario Balotelli-inspired Nice on Tuesday, but Marseille leapfrogged the Ligue 1 football champions into second place by beating Strasbourg. Monaco took a first-half lead at the Stade Louis II through Adama Diakhaby, but Balotelli turned in an equaliser less than two minutes into the second period. The enigmatic Italian completed his double in the 68th minute, but Falcao stabbed in on his return from injury in the second minute of added time. “That’s Falcao. He’s a forward who takes chances, like Balotelli. That’s what great strikers do,” said Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim. The point extended Nice’s unbeaten run to seven league games, while Monaco will still slip out of the three Champions League places if Lyon win at Guingamp on Wednesday. Marseille’s third straight victory leaves them second, nine points adrift of runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain and one point clear of Monaco, while Nice stay sixth. — AFP