Serge Gapke earns Monaco a point at Lens

Teenage striker Serge Gapke scored on his league debut Sunday to give Monaco a 1-1 draw at Lens in the French first division.

Later Sunday, four-time defending champion and leader Lyon hosted Auxerre, whose coach Jacques Santini returned to Stade Gerland for the first time since leaving in 2002 to take over as France coach.

At Lens, Gapke was a late call-up for depleted Monaco, which was missing new signings Christian Vieiri and Marco di Vaio. Both strikers pulled out because of gastroenteritis.

The 18-year-old collected a pass from leftback Nicolas Veigneau and beat goalkeeper Charles Itandje with a neat finish.

Gapke now has three goals in two matches for Monaco this season after grabbing a brace in this month's 6-0 French Cup win against Rhone-Vallee.

Defender Nicolas Gillet leveled in the 45th with a powerful shot past goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz, the AP reports.

Substitute Seid Khiter almost won the match late on for Lens when his shot rolled just past the post.

A.M.