Annecy, France (SportsNetwork.com) - A stoppage-time equalizer from Ryan Mendes allowed Lille to escape with a 2-2 draw at Evian on Sunday, handing the visitors a point in the race for a Champions League spot.
After the two sides traded first-half goals, Evian took the lead in the 64th minute when Cedric Mongongu converted a penalty kick to put his side up, 2-1.
But Mendes denied the relegation strugglers maximum points when he scored just before the final whistle, leaving Evian three points clear of the bottom three.
Lille remains in third place but is only three points better than fourth-place St Etienne, which got a last-gasp equalizer from Brandao to salvage a 1-1 draw against Marseille on Sunday.
Kevin Berigaud headed Evian in front after 15 minutes when he nodded home a cross from Modou Sougou, while Lille answered eight minutes later through Divock Origi, who cut inside from the left wing and lashed a shot past Evian goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait.
Lille looked poised to take the lead in the second half, but Evian was handed a great chance against the run of play when Lille's Pape N'Diaye Souare handled the ball inside his own penalty area.
Mongongu stepped forward and made no mistake from the spot, putting his team in position for its first win since December.
However, Mendes had other ideas and he snatched a point for his team with a cross that ended up looping over the head of Laquait and settling into the net.
Lyon claimed a 3-1 home victory over last-place Ajaccio behind goals from Gueida Fofana, Jimmy Briand and Bafetimbi Gomis, leaving Ajaccio 10 points from safety.
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