Lille draws 1-1 at Auxerre in French league

PARIS (AP) - Lille missed the chance to move seven points clear at the top of the French league when it conceded a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Auxerre on Sunday.

Lille took the lead in the ninth minute when striker Moussa Sow got his league-leading 15th goal of the season with a brilliant bicycle kick from just inside the penalty area, but Poland defender Dariusz Dudka replied with just four minutes remaining.

"It's two points lost. But we've come away empty-handed from here so many times in the past that it (feels like) a point gained," Lille coach Rudi Garcia said. "We know we're the team to beat because we're at the front, but we will have to learn from experiences like this."

Lille should have led by more late in the first half, but midfielder Eden Hazard chose to shoot from a narrow angle rather than passing to the unmarked Sow lurking inside the area.

Lille paid the price for that missed chance. Auxerre won a free kick near the left corner flag, and Anthony Le Tallec flicked it on perfectly for Dudka to slide the ball home at the far post.

The draw means Lille is five points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes, who are second and third respectively.

But Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez thinks Lille can go all the way this season. "Lille will be champions, they deserve to be," Fernandez said. "Rudi Garcia is doing some really good things with his team.

Lille have been playing with the same team for the last three or four years."

Seven-time former champion Lyon failed to close the gap and remains in sixth place, seven points behind the leader, after drawing 0-0 at home to Bordeaux in a drab game of few chances.

Lyon's best chances fell to playmaker Yoann Gourcuff and striker Lisandro Lopez, but both shot straight at Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso.

Earlier, Moussa Sissoko scored both goals as Toulouse beat struggling Monaco 2-0 at home to climb up to seventh place.

Monaco remains deep in relegation trouble in 19th spot, and coach Laurent Banide warned his players they will be relegated unless they start improving soon.

"We were nonexistent in the first half. To win a game you have to have all the necessary ingredients," he said. "Even though we came up against a very good Toulouse team, I'm very disappointed by our performance. It's worrying and you have to ring the alarm bell."