Monaco brush aside 10-man St Etienne to close gap on PSG

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:36 am

Monaco's Thomas Lemar celebrates after scoring a goal against St Etienne in Ligue 1.
Monaco's Thomas Lemar celebrates after scoring a goal against St Etienne in Ligue 1.
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Monaco made the most of their Friday night fixture as they closed to within six points of Ligue 1 leaders PSG with a 4-0 rout of 10-man St Etienne away from home.

Djibril Sidibe fired the visitors ahead after just three minutes when Keita Balde's shot rebounded into his path, and Thomas Lemar doubled the lead in the 32nd minute, shaking off several defenders to break into the box and power home a left-footed shot.

Any hope of a St Etienne comeback was ended eight minutes into the second half as goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier got himself sent off for protesting against Monaco's third - poked home by Radamel Falcao as Ruffier wrongly claimed offside.

Balde fired home a fourth on the hour but, despite the man extra and plenty of Monaco chances, St Etienne kept it to four.

The win puts Monaco second before the rest of the weekend fixtures.