Giuly lifts Monaco to second

Captain Ludovic Giuly scored the winner shortly before half-time as AS Monaco FC kept their Ligue 1 ambitions alive with a 2-1 victory at OGC Nice on Friday. The three points lift Monaco back to second, one point behind Olympique Lyonnais who are on 69.

'Important win'
The defending champions are away to FC Girondins de Bordeaux on Sunday, while Paris Saint-Germain FC, on 66 points, also face a tricky trip to RC Strasbourg on Saturday. "It's an important win for us, a lot can depend on it," said Monaco coach Didier Deschamps.

Pršo leveller
Monaco had the worst possible start as defender Cedric Varrault rewarded Nice's early domination with a tenth-minute opener. Two minutes later, Philippe Leonard's free-kick shook the bar. But Monaco slowly fought their way back into the game and Croatian international Dado Pršo levelled the scores from an Edouard Cissé cross in the 35th minute.

Chelsea trip
In the dying seconds of the first half, Giuly scored a masterpiece of a goal when he deflected a long through-ball from Hugo Ibarra into the net with the tip of his foot. Monaco controlled most of the second half and will be content with a morale-boosting victory ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea FC on Wednesday. Monaco won the first leg 3-1.

Deschamps hopeful
However, playmaker Jérôme Rothen and Pršo both left the field before full time with injuries which will need assessing. "We lost two players and I hope they'll be fit for Chelsea. It's important to win games these days but at least in London we will not need a victory," Deschamps said.