PARIS (AFP) - Sochaux`s 3-1 away victory at Monaco consolidated fourth spot in the French league for the victors to keep them well on course for European competition next season.
Sochaux, now eight games unbeaten, may be seven points behind leaders Lyon, who play at Paris Saint Germain in the other Friday game (2000 GMT), but this year`s UEFA Cup hopefuls are continuing to show their class.
Jeremy Menez and Wilson Oruma put Sochaux ahead either side of the break though Emmanuel Adebayor pulled a goal back for Didier Deschamps` Monaco side midway through the second half.
Brazilian striker Ilan, returning after a two-week absence, scored Sochaux`s third.
The defeat was Monaco`s eighth match without a win and leaves them in sixth spot, 10 points behind Lyon and three points behind Sochaux.
Menez opened the score on 31 minutes after getting in between Monaco`s Sebastien Squillaci and Gael Givet and then shooting past keeper Flavio Roma from the edge of the box.
They had to wait till the 63rd minute for their second when Oruma made the most of his opportunity. He got hold of the ball in the middle of the pitch and ran straight down the centre, and, as no one tackled him, he took his chance from 25 metres and once more Roma was beaten.
Adebayor pulled a goal back for Monaco five minutes later after a long clearance. He used heading skills to shake off two defenders before firing the ball home.
Then came Ilan`s goal in the 79th minute. On a counter attack, he dribbled past Squillaci before finding the net from an acute angle.
Sochaux`s last defeat was on September 22 when they fell 2-0 at home to Lille, the same day that Monaco had their last victory, a 2-1 win over Nantes.
11/19/2004 - 19:07 GMT - AFP