Ligue 1: Montpellier 2 Evian 2

2 May 2012 11:02

Montpellier have opened the door in the Ligue 1 title race after being held 2-2 in an incident-packed draw at home to Evian on Tuesday.

The league leaders came back from 2-1 down and had a chance to win the match with an injury-time penalty.

But substitute Souleymane Camara missed from the spot in the 98th minute, following a brawl between the teams which saw four players receive their marching orders, including Montpellier's star man Younes Belhanda.

Earlier, it was Morocco midfielder Belhanda who opened the scoring for the home side in the 42nd minute at the Stade de la Mosson, converting from the penalty spot after Olivier Giroud was fouled inside the box.

Against all expectations, the promoted visitors struck back just two minutes later.

A long ball forward was expertly knocked down by Saber Khelifa for Thomas Kahlenberg to run onto, and the Denmark midfielder slid a well-placed finish past Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren.

After the break, Montpellier dominated possession but found Stephan Andersen in excellent form between the posts for Evian.

A second goal for the visitors appeared unlikely, until a magnificent sweeping counterattack saw them go 2-1 ahead.

Cedric Barbosa, impressive against his former club, latched onto a fine diagonal pass before crossing low for Kevin Berigaud to score.

Montpellier regain control of proceedings but had to wait until six minutes from time to force the equaliser, when Belhanda broke the offside trap and set up Giroud to make it 2-2.

Camara nearly won the game for the home side with a spectacular diving header late on, and he spurned an even simpler chance from 12 yards during a dramatic conclusion to the match.

Some terrific skill from Remy Cabella earned Montpellier a stoppage-time penalty, but Camara had to wait five minutes to take it, as the two teams became embroiled in a mass brawl.

The incident led the sending off of Evian's Cedric Mongongu and Saber Khelifa, as well as Belhanda and Gregory Lacombe, the latter an unused substitute for Montpellier.

It was an unsavoury end to a terrific contest, and will leave Montpellier without Belhanda during their final three matches of the title run-in.

Camara's missed penalty means surprise challengers Montpellier lead Paris Saint-Germain by six points in the race for the Ligue 1 crown.

Carlo Ancelotti's second-placed side have a game in hand over the leaders, to be played against Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.