Champions Lille hold Metz with last-gasp leveller

Ligue 1 champions Lille fought back from two goals down to grind out a last-gasp 3-3 draw at 10-man Metz in their opening game of the season on Sunday.

Sven Botman gave Lille a perfect start at Metz with a 23rd-minute opener but the home side, roared on by a fervent crowd, turned the tide by halftime with goals from Fabien Cetonze and Mathieu Udol.

Centonze made it 3-1 with a freakish goal in the 52nd minute as an attempted clearance by the visitors rebounded off him into the net before Metz had Kiki Kouyabe sent off four minutes later for a reckless tackle on an opponent.

Metz looked like hanging on for a win but Jonathan Ikone reduced the arrears with a side-footed finish in the 81st minute before Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz levelled with the last kick of the game deep into stoppage time.