PARIS — AS Monaco had a player sent off for the third time in as many matches this season as they squandered a two-goal halftime lead to draw 2-2 at home to Nimes on Sunday, a result that left them still without a win in Ligue 1.

The 2017 champions at least picked up their first point of the season but were left languishing one off the bottom of the table after yet another frustrating match.

After losing their first two games 3-0, Monaco seemed to have finally slipped into gear as Algeria forward Islam Slimani opened the scoring in the 39th minute and Wissam Ben Yedder added a second on the stroke of halftime.

But it all went wrong after Jemerson was sent off in the 55th minute. The Brazilian was initially cautioned for a late tackle on Romain Philippoteaux but, after reviewing the incident with the VAR, the referee changed his mind and showed a red.

Philippoteaux started and finished the move to pull one back in the 70th minute and Kevin Denkey finished off a counter attack to equalise with eight minutes left. — Reuters