Evian shock Monaco

Evian claimed another big scalp at their Parc des Sport home to give their survival bid a major boost with a 1-0 win over Monaco.

Evian claimed another big scalp at their Parc des Sport home to give their survival bid a major boost with a 1-0 win over Monaco. Former Monaco defender Cedric Mongongu's 82nd-minute penalty proved the difference after Ricardo Carvalho was penalised for handball. Evian had already beaten champions-in-waiting Paris St Germain and Lyon in Annecy this season and their latest giant-killing lifted them five points above the relegation zone. Monaco had their chances to go ahead, most notably when a red-faced James Rodriguez provided a candidate for miss of the season shortly after half-time. The Colombia international somehow conspired to stand on the ball when he needed only to tap in Valere Germain's low cross from three yards and with no one to beat. Defeat leaves Monaco 13 points adrift of leaders PSG, and their only task now would appear to be holding onto their Champions League place. Claudio Ranieri's side threatened first when Lucas Ocampos fired a shot just over. Evian would offer a threat all night, though, and when Clarck N'Sikulu expertly brought down Kevin Berigaud's long ball he fired straight at Danijel Subasic. Daniel Wass' chest and volley was then just off target. Monaco's star January signing Dimitar Berbatov was allowed space to shoot from six yards just before half-time and while he effort was on target Jesper Hansen made the block. Monaco should have taken the lead shortly after the break, only for Rodriguez to suffer his embarrassing moment. Berbatov intelligently left a through-ball for Germain's left-wing run and when he pulled the ball back for Rodriguez he could not have imagined his team-mate would pass up the chance so badly. It proved costly too. Berigaud served notice of what was to come as he cut inside after a counter-attack and blasted a 25-yard shot just wide of the near post with Subasic scrambling. Cedric Cambon then narrowly failed to divert a corner in before substitute Cedric Barbosa won the match-winning penalty following another counter-attack. The midfielder raced into the area, cut inside Aymen Abdennour and then fired a shot on target that Carvalho blocked with an outstretched arm. The former Real Madrid defender was booked for his action and then Mongongu made his former club pay as he sent Subasic the wrong way to the delight of the home fans, who celebrated at the final whistle in a sea of pink flags.