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Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice to approach 100 league goals for Monaco as the Principality side beat rockbottom Clermont 41 and moved closer to securing Champions League qualification on Saturday.
PARIS: Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice to approach 100 league goals for Monaco as the Principality side beat rock-bottom Clermont 4-1 and moved closer to securing Champions League qualification on Saturday.
Ben Yedder’s second-half brace took him onto 15 league goals this season and made it seven in five career games against Clermont.
It followed his two goals last weekend against Lyon, and took the 33-year-old sharpshooter onto 97 league goals since joining five years ago. He also had a superb 30-meter lob against Clermont ruled out for a narrow offside following a video review, having had a hat-trick goal ruled out by VAR against Lyon.
Ben Yedder is looking back to his best and could be in contention for a place in France’s squad for the June 14-July 14 European Championship. Coach Didier Deschamps names his squad on May 16.
Japan forward Takumi Minamino set up both of Ben Yedder’s goals, having put his side ahead in the 16th minute. Moments after Austria midfielder Muhammed Cham equalized for Clermont, Switzerland forward Breel Embolo grabbed his first of the season to make it 2-1 in the 37th.
Second-place Monaco was five points ahead of third-place Brest before the Brittany-based side’s home game against Nantes later Saturday.
The top three qualify directly for the Champions League with the side finishing in fourth spot — currently Lille — going into the qualifying rounds. Lille hosts Lyon on Monday, after which there will be two rounds of matches remaining.
Also Saturday, Moroccan midfielder Yassine Kechta scored twice and Ghana veteran Andre Ayew added a late third as Le Havre beat Strasbourg 3-1 to boost its chances of staying up.
Le Havre, which drew 3-3 at Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, moved provisionally up to 14th place.
Relegation battler Metz faced Rennes in Saturday’s other game.
Record 12-time French champion PSG is not playing this weekend because it is involved in the Champions League semifinals, while Europa League semifinalist Marseille is also exempt ahead of the second legs next week.
PSG lost 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund and Marseille drew 1-1 at home to Atalanta earlier this week.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)