PARIS — Struggling Saint-Etienne came from behind three times to draw 3-3 with Brest in Ligue 1 on Sunday and earn a valuable point in its relegation fight.
The draw moved 17th-placed Saint-Etienne three points behind Le Havre in the relegation-playoff spot with five rounds left.
The manner of the performance may give Saint-Etienne fans hope, although the club has a difficult run-in with games against high-flying Monaco, Lyon and Strasbourg — who are all chasing a Champions League spot next season.
Eighth-placed Brest led 3-2 after a thrilling first half where striker Ludovic Ajorque scored twice for the visitors and Abdallah Sima got the other goal, while lively forwards Lucas Stassin and Irvin Cardona netted for Saint-Etienne.
Cardona made it 3-3 with 10 minutes to go and Saint-Etienne went close to winning when Zuriko Davitashvili's header hit the crossbar five minutes into stoppage time.
Later Sunday, resurgent Lyon needed a victory at mid-table Auxerre to move into fourth place in the race for a Champions League place.
Rennes routs Le Havre
Rennes raced into a 3-0 lead inside 15 minutes on the way to a 5-1 win at Le Havre.
Dutch midfielder Azor Matusiwa scored after 37 seconds following a huge blunder by goalkeeper Mathieu Gorgelin, who passed the ball straight to a Rennes player. Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo then set up Matusiwa for an empty-net goal.
Defender Lorenz Assignon and Kalimuendo netted soon after. Le Havre pulled one back before the break but Jordan forward Mousa Tamari and substitute Andrés Gomez grabbed completed a rout as Rennes moved up to 11th.
Montpellier's misery continues
Striker Esteban Lepaul scored twice as Angers beat rock-bottom Montpellier 2-0 and pushed it closer to relegation.
Montpellier is 12 points behind Le Havre with only 15 points available.
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