FOOTBALL NEWS FROM LIGUE 1
Rennes slay ten-man Ajaccio
Three goals in the last five minutes failed to alter the destination of the points as Rennes collected a fourth Ligue 1 win in a row at the expense of relegation-battlers Ajaccio.
After Ajaccio's Samuel Bouhours was dismissed in the 11th minute, Julien Feret's 27th-minute goal looked like being the only one of the match.
But there was a late flurry as Razak Boukari and Ilan traded strikes before Yacine Brahimi settled it in injury-time.
Bouhours was given a straight red for a bad challenge on Jonathan Pitroipa, almost immediately handicapping the away side, who ended the day a point above the drop zone.
Rennes began to take advantage as Jires Kembo Ekoko's curling shot drew a diving save from Guillermo Ochoa.
The Mexican again denied Rennes when he tipped Alexander Tettey's effort out for a corner.
The hosts could not be held back indefinitely, though, Ekoko drawing another save from Ochoa before Feret nodded the loose ball into an empty goal.
Ochoa again proved the difference for his side six minutes before half-time when he kept out Feret's low drive.
Rennes did not maximise their advantage after the restart, Romain Danze off target from 20 yards and Tettey slotting wide after going one on one with the keeper.
Another save from the excellent Ochoa stopped Ekoko making it 2-0 after 66 minutes and it was not until five minutes from time that Rennes finally scored again.
It was worth the wait, substitute Boukari sending a scorching drive in off the post.
That spurred Ajaccio into a late attack, Ilan volleying home Paul Lasne with two minutes remaining.
Another replacement, Brahimi, continued the late excitement as he buried his first chance in added time.
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Three goals in the last five minutes failed to alter the destination of the points as Rennes collected a fourth Ligue 1 win in a row at the expense of relegation-battlers Ajaccio.After Ajaccio's Samuel Bouhours was dismissed in the 11th minute, Julien Feret's 27th-minute goal looked like being the only one of the match.
But there was a late flurry as Razak Boukari and Ilan traded strikes before Yacine Brahimi settled it in injury-time.
Bouhours was given a straight red for a bad challenge on Jonathan Pitroipa, almost immediately handicapping the away side, who ended the day a point above the drop zone.
Rennes began to take advantage as Jires Kembo Ekoko's curling shot drew a diving save from Guillermo Ochoa.
The Mexican again denied Rennes when he tipped Alexander Tettey's effort out for a corner.
The hosts could not be held back indefinitely, though, Ekoko drawing another save from Ochoa before Feret nodded the loose ball into an empty goal.
Ochoa again proved the difference for his side six minutes before half-time when he kept out Feret's low drive.
Rennes did not maximise their advantage after the restart, Romain Danze off target from 20 yards and Tettey slotting wide after going one on one with the keeper.
Another save from the excellent Ochoa stopped Ekoko making it 2-0 after 66 minutes and it was not until five minutes from time that Rennes finally scored again.
It was worth the wait, substitute Boukari sending a scorching drive in off the post.
That spurred Ajaccio into a late attack, Ilan volleying home Paul Lasne with two minutes remaining.
Another replacement, Brahimi, continued the late excitement as he buried his first chance in added time.