LENS, France - A 16-year-old debutant, Mezian Mesloub, scored with his first touch to give Lens a 1-0 win over Nantes. The result keeps Lens in the Ligue 1 title race and relegates Nantes after 13 seasons in the top flight.
Mesloub came off the bench with 11 minutes remaining. He latched onto a loose ball and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. His father, former Algerian international Walid Mesloub, watched from the stands.
The win moves Lens to 67 points, three behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who have a game in hand. Lens have now secured Champions League football. PSG cannot clinch the title when they host Brest on Sunday, setting up a potential decider when Lens visit the champions on Wednesday.
Nantes needed a win to keep alive their faint hopes of a relegation playoff. They remain second from bottom with 23 points, five behind Auxerre with one game left. Their 13-year stay in Ligue 1 is over.