Mbappé sets up late equalizer as French leader PSG and rock-bottom Clermont finish 1-1

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé came off the bench and set up a late equalizer as runaway French league leader Paris Saint-Germain and rock-bottom Clermont finished 1-1 on Saturday.

Mbappé took a pass from striker Goncalo Ramos and masterfully played it back into his path as Ramos ran into the penalty area in the 85th minute.

PSG is 13 points clear of second-placed Brest, which hosts relegation battler Metz on Sunday, and a record-extending 12th league title seems a formality. After this weekend, there are only six rounds and 18 points remaining.

PSG faces Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, and coach Luis Enrique left out Mbappé, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and other first-teamers. Mbappé went on against Clermont midway through the second half.

Enrique has been rotating Mbappé in recent weeks, even taking him out midway through the second half against bitter foe Marseille last Sunday.

Midfielder Senny Mayulu and defender Yoram Zague, who are both 17, started their first games for PSG.

But PSG gave away a sloppy goal in the 32nd when central defender Milan Skriniar failed to deal with a cross. The ball was quickly played back into the penalty area, where Clermont defender Habib Keita hit a scuffed shot which bobbled past goalkeeper Arnau Tenas.

Mayulu scored with a fine shot deep into first half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out after video picked up a blatant foul by Zague moments earlier.

Right back Achraf Hakimi hit the crossbar in the 63rd and Enrique sent on Mbappé moments later.

SABBI SCORES

United States forward Emmanuel Sabbi scored a late penalty after being fouled to earn struggling Le Havre a 1-1 draw at fifth-placed Lens.

Sabbi’s fifth goal of the season moved Le Havre up one place to 14th.

Lens striker Elye Wahi looked sharp early on but Le Havre held firm until the 58th when Przemysław Frankowski's cross looped over goalkeeper Arthur Desmas.

Sabbi netted in the 78th after being pushed in the back when contesting a high ball.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, and Goncalo Ramos react during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

PSG's Yoram Zague, center, and Clermont's Chrislain Matsima compete for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Clermont's Maximiliano Caufriez, right, and PSG's Randal Kolo Muani compete for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

PSG's Danilo Pereira, left, and Marco Asensio react after Clermont's Habib Keita scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

PSG's Danilo Pereira reacts after Clermont's Habib Keita scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

PSG's Kylian Mbappe competes for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

PSG's Goncalo Ramos, left, celebrates with teammate Kylian Mbappe scoring his side's first goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

LONDON (AP) — German tennis legend Boris Becker was discharged from bankruptcy court in London after a judge found Wednesday he had done “all that he reasonably could do” to repay creditors tens of millions of pounds.

Becker fell far short of repaying his creditors in full, but Chief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nicholas Briggs said it would be “perverse” not to end the case given the efforts Becker made.

“On the spectrum of bankrupts who range from ‘difficult as possible and doing everything to frustrate the trustee’s inquiries’ to ‘co-operative, providing information and delivering up assets’, Mr. Becker clearly falls on the right side of the line," Briggs wrote.

Becker, 57, was deported to Germany two years ago after serving 8 months in a London prison for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding 2.5 million pounds ($3.1 million) in assets after he was declared bankrupt in 2017.

He had been convicted in a London court on four charges under the Insolvency Act, including removal of property, concealing debt and two counts of failing to disclose estate. He was acquitted of 25 other charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over Grand Slam trophies and his Olympic gold medal to bankruptcy trustees.

He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, but was released early under a fast-track deportation program for foreign nationals.

Becker rose to stardom in 1985 at the age of 17 when he became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon singles title. He went on to become the world No. 1 player, winning two titles at Wimbledon, two at the Australian Open and one at the U.S. Open.

He retired from professional tennis in 1999 and worked as a coach, television commentator, investor and celebrity poker player.

Becker blamed laziness and bad advice for his financial problems that led him to declare bankruptcy after owing creditors nearly 50 million pounds ($62.5 million) over an unpaid loan of more than 3 million pounds ($3.75 million) on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.

Attorney Katie Longstaff said at a High Court hearing last month that the joint trustees did not oppose his effort to end the case but did not support it because he still owed about 42 million pounds ($52.5 million).

Becker's lawyer, Louis Doyle, said the two sides had reached a settlement that includes a “substantial sum” the tennis great must pay. The agreement “includes the outstanding trophies,” Doyled said, adding Becker “can’t do more than he has done to bring us to this point."

FILE - Former tennis player Boris Becker arrives at Southwark Crown Court, in London, Friday, April 8, 2022. German tennis legend Boris Becker was discharged from bankruptcy court in London after a judge found on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, he had done “all that he reasonably could do” to repay creditors nearly 50 million pounds. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)