Monaco secure first Ligue 1 title in 17 years

Paris May 18 (IANS) AS Monaco secured their first Ligue 1 title since 2000 with a 2-0 home win against Saint-Etienne in a rescheduled match.

Monaco have virtually won the french top division football championship ahead of the rescheduled 31st round of matches as they led defending champions Paris Saint-Germain who had one game remaining by three points with a far superior goal difference and a draw with eighth-ranked Saint-Etienne would earn them a tight grip on the trophy reports Xinhua news agency.

Monaco took the lead during Wednesday night s game through the 18-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe who collected Radamel Falcao s pass broke the defence and rounded goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier to score his 15th league goal of the season.

Substitute forward Valere Germain sealed the victory for Monaco with a shot at target on a counter-attack into stoppage time also handing Monaco their eighth crown in the French top-flight league.

The league was still haunted by the uncertainty of relegation as Dijon Caen Lorient Bastia and Nancy were involved in a battle to avoid being the last two teams after Saturday s finale.

--IANS
ajb/bg