Khazri scores 2 as St. Etienne beats Monaco to go 2nd

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PARIS (AP) — Forward Wahbi Khazri scored twice as Saint-Etienne beat struggling Monaco 2-0 to move into second place in the French league on Friday.

Monaco, the French champion in 2017, remains mired in 18th as the pressure increases on coach Leonardo Jardim.

Monaco's miserable night was summed up by Radamel Falcao missing a sitter and hitting the post with another straightforward chance.

Khazri showed the Colombia striker how to finish.

The Tunisia international gave the home side the lead in the 41st minute. Monaco's slow and sloppy defense allowed Khazri far too much room.

Receiving midfielder Ole Selnaes' quick pass over the top of the center backs, Khazri deftly controlled the ball with the inside of his right foot, swiveled and drilled a shot into the bottom left corner.

After Falcao missed from six yards (meters) early in the second half, Khazri drilled in his second with a fine strike from 20 meters. He received a quick pass to feet after Monaco carelessly lost the ball in midfield.

Rarely for him, Falcao looked out of sorts and he hit the right post shortly after.

Jardim guided Monaco to the Champions League semifinals in 2017, but his current side looks bereft of confidence, having lost 1-0 at home to Amiens on Tuesday without managing a shot on target.

On Saturday, league leader Paris Saint-Germain looks to make it eight straight wins when it travels to play Nice. PSG forward Kylian Mbappe is in contention to start after returning from a three-game suspension.