Monaco beat Amiens to finish fifth in France

MARSEILLE: Monaco snatched a 2-1 victory at Amiens on Saturday after Wissam Ben Yedder and Islam Slimani struck in a frantic finish to push the Principality team up to fifth in Ligue 1.

Earlier, Dimitri Payet helped Marseille maintain their grip on second place with the only goal in a 1-0 win over rock-bottom Toulouse.

In northern France, Monaco trailed to Serhou Guirassy’s first half goal created by a howler by Monaco goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte until Ben Yedder equalised with a superb volley in the 85th minute.

Three minutes into injury time, Cesc Fabregas supplied the corner for substitute Slimani to head in a dramatic winner that shot his side to within six points of the Champions League places.

Monaco’s Spanish coach Robert Moreno will hope the goal helps the Algerian Slimani turn the page on a turbulent January when he expressed his desire to leave the club.