A debut goal from 16-year-old Mezian Mesloub secured a 1-0 victory for Lens, keeping their title hopes alive and confirming Nantes' relegation from Ligue 1.
LENS, France, May 8 – Teenage substitute Mezian Mesloub scored with his first touch to earn Lens a 1-0 home win over Nantes on Friday, a result which keeps their slim Ligue 1 title hopes alive and relegated Nantes to Ligue 2 after 13 successive seasons in the top flight.. Mesloub was sprung from the bench with 11 minutes left, and the 16-year-old marked his senior debut in style by netting the winner which moves
Lens to 67 points, three behind leaders Paris St Germain who have a game in hand.. Nantes’ only hope of survival was a win to remain in with a chance of finishing 16th which would earn them a relegation playoff, but they will finish the season second from bottom.. They have 23 points, five behind Auxerre with one game left.. Lens’ victory, which guarantees them Champions League football, means PSG cannot clinch their 14th league
title when they host Brest on Sunday, and Lens will host the leaders on Wednesday before the season finale next weekend.. REUTERS