PARIS --
Emerging Brazil right back Fabinho's late penalty earned Monaco a 1-0 win against Saint-Etienne and moved it provisionally up to second place in the French league on Sunday.
Saint-Etienne was clinging on after defender Kevin Malcuit was sent off midway through the second half for fouling Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Fabinho forced goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier into a save just before his 82nd-minute goal, which came after defender Pierre-Yves Polomat handled the ball challenging for it with forward Helder Costa.
The 22-year-old Fabinho, who recently broke into the national team, confidently beat Ruffier to his right.
Monaco is one point ahead of Angers, which only needed to draw at home against Bordeaux later Sunday to reclaim second place.
Also later, Marseille faced Gazelec Ajaccio and unbeaten leader Paris Saint-Germain hosted Lyon.
