AC Ajaccio Football - AC Ajaccio News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More

Ajaccio forfeit home field in promotion playoff

4Y
PA Sport

Ligue 2 playoff postponed after fans halt bus

4Y
Jonathan Johnson

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Ajaccio win appeal to remain in Ligue 2

5Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Coupe de France: Falcao goal lifts Monaco

5Y
Associated Press

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

St Etienne 2-1 Ajaccio: Winner on 120 min.

6Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Toulouse progress in Coupe de la Ligue

7Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Sainati gets 16-month ban for punches

7Y
Mark Rodden

Dijon's French midfielder Eric Bautheac (L) vies with Istres' French defender Joris Sainati

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

St Etienne 3-1 AC Ajaccio

St Etienne finished a fine season with a convincing victory over relegated Ajaccio but will have to settle for Europa League football after Lille won 4-1 at Lorient to secure the final Champions League berth.Although there will be disappointment at falling two points short of the bigger goal, St Etienne can reflect on an excellent campaign after securing their 20th victory.Loic Perrin bagged a brace either side of Mevlut Erding's goal but the outstanding Max-Alain Gradel missed a penalty before Issa Baradji and Ajaccio bid farewell to the top flight with a goal deep in stoppage time. As might have been predicted given their relative form, St Etienne dominated proceedings and created a string of chances.Erding had the first two, seeing an early volley blocked by Guillermo Ochoa before being denied again when through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.Perrin broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, heading home a superb cross from Gradel on the left.Erding was frustrated again soon after when Benjamin Corgnet picked him out unmarked but the header was straight at the goalkeeper.However, he got his goal 10 minutes before the break, turning home Gradel's cross.This effectively settled the match as a contest, with far fewer chances in the second half.Ochoa denied Erding once more in the 54th minute, but that was about it until Perrin scrambled home the third after Gradel's corner sparked chaos in the Ajaccio area. Four minutes later they had a penalty when Grenddy Perozo felled Erding, but Gradel's shot hit a post. Ajaccio sparked into life just as the match was finishing, with Stephane Ruffier blocking Paul Lasne's shot before Baradji fired in from close range.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

AC Ajaccio 2-1 Stade de Reims

Relegated Ajaccio sent their fans away for the summer with at least something to cheer about after beating Reims 2-1 on the final day at the Stade Francois-Coty.L'ours , who knew they would remain bottom of the Ligue 1 table whatever the outcome, took a 2-0 lead thanks to two goals in the opening five minutes from Gadji Tallo and Grenddy Perozo.Although Prince Oniangue halved the deficit for Reims just before the break it was not enough, with Tallo missing an opportunity to extend Ajaccio's advantage from the penalty spot in the second half.Reims finished the campaign without a win on the road since February 8 at Guingamp, while Ligue 2-bound Ajaccio's final day salvo was only their fourth victory of the season.Tallo opened the scoring with his seventh strike of the season in the third minute, smashing home on the rebound after Reims keeper Kossi Agassa punched Claude Goncalves' venomous right-footed shot into his path.Agassa was left picking the ball out of his net for a second time two minutes later, before Reims even had time to think about a comeback. Defender Perozo struck on the volley direct from Benoit Pedretti's corner to give the hosts a chance of bowing out of Ligue 1 in style. But as the first half wore on Reims started to impose themselves, with Nicolas De Preville forcing a good save from Guillermo Ochoa in the 38th minute, before they got a breakthrough three minutes later. Midfielder Oniangue pounced onto a goal-line clearance from Goncalves after Grzegorz Krychowiak's corner to score his 10th of the season and make it 2-1. The visitors almost made it level at half-time, with Oniangue again going close with an unmarked header, but Ochoa was equal to it. Tallo had a golden opportunity to put the result out of sight in the 69th minute after Ajaccio were given a penalty when Antoine Conte handled in the box.The Ajaccio front man's soft spot kick was disappointing and Agassa saved comfortably, but it mattered little in the end as the hosts saw out the victory.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Lorient 1-0 AC Ajaccio

Ten-man Lorient dealt sorry Ajaccio yet another defeat as Jeremie Aliadiere's early goal settled the contest.The striker fired home from Gilles Sunu's pass in the 17th minute to comdemn the already-relegated visitors to a 22nd loss of the campaign, 1-0.The Corsicans were gifted a way back into the match when Ecuele Manga was controversially sent off for bringing down Paul Lasne when last man, replays showing he got the ball first. It was the first red card of his career.Aboubacar Camara saw his penalty saved by Fabien Audard, though.The hosts started quickly, with Alain Traore heading a Raphael Guerreiro cross over the top when unmarked.They went ahead when Sunu brought the ball down the right, beat Mickael Leca and slid the ball across for Aliadiere to shoot home.The match might have turned nine minutes later when Manga was very harshly penalised, but Audard kept out Camara's spot-kick with his leg.The prospect of being without Manga for more than an hour did not unsettle the hosts, though, and the 10 men almost doubled their lead before the break, Aliadiere's first-time shot coming back off a post.Ajaccio threatened a minute after the break, but Camara was again denied by Audard from close range.Lorient finished the match the stronger, though.Kevin Monnet-Paquet ran on to a Lamine Gassama ball over the top and shooting just wide before Monnet-Paquet set up Mathieu Coutadeur, whose shot was deflected away.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Berbatov inspires with double

#INSERT type:image caption:Dimitar Berbatov scored twice in Monaco's 4-1 win at doomed Ajaccio. END# Dimitar Berbatov bagged a brace as Monaco kept the Ligue 1 title race alive for another day at least after a rousing second-half display saw them trounce already-relegated Ajaccio 4-1. Following a goalless opening half, Monaco came to life after the interval, with Berbatov scoring twice and although Gadji Tallo pulled a goal back for the hosts, Claudio Ranieri's men ensured victory thanks to strikes late on from Geoffrey Kondogbia and Lucas Ocampos. A defeat for Monaco at the Stade Francois Coty would have handed the title to Paris St Germain, who can retain their league crown with victory at Sochaux on Sunday. And that nearly came to fruition as Monaco rode their luck in the opening 45 minutes. It was the visitors who had the first real chance, with Andrea Raggi flicking on Berbatov's cross to Joao Moutinho, whose strike was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Yet Ajaccio would dominate for the remainder of the half and Dennis Oliech and Benjamin Andre both saw decent strikes saved by Monaco custodian Danijel Subasic, who made another stop from Andre on the stroke of half-time following the midfielder's strike from the edge of the area. Yet, the Corsican side were made to pay for their failure to make their dominance pay as Berbatov finally opened the scoring after 53 minutes, heading home from close range following Moutinho's cross from the left. Boosted by the goal, Monaco continued to pour forward and Rodriguez saw a shot superbly blocked by Ochoa before former Tottenham and Manchester United forward Berbatov doubled their lead in the 74th minute, finishing a flowing move involving Emmanuel Riviere and Rodriguez. Against the run of play, Ajaccio pulled one back almost immediately afterwards as Tallo expertly volleyed high into the net from Paul Lasne's cross. But his efforts were in vain as Kondogbia coolly slotted past Ochoa after being left unmarked in the area in the 88th minute, while Ocampos was also afforded too much space in injury time and he finished expertly at the far post from Nabil Dirar's right-wing cross.

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Bastia 2-1 AC Ajaccio

Ajaccio's relegation to Ligue 2 was confirmed at the hands of their Corsican neighbours Bastia as they slumped to a 2-1 derby defeat on Sunday.Only a win would have been good enough to delay the inevitable and although Aboubacar Camara put them ahead just five minutes in, Florian Raspentino levelled after half an hour and Sebastien Squillaci delivered the final insult a minute from time as Bastia took all three points.The start could hardly have been better for Ajaccio as Camara rose unmarked to head in Mehdi Mostefa's free-kick, and they might have doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Claude Dielna's free-kick struck the crossbar.But the momentum then swung as Ryad Boudebouz broke away down the right and crossed for Raspentino to head in the equaliser, and only a fine save from Guillermo Ochoa prevented them from leading at half-time as Raspentino was denied a second. The Ajaccio defence left Wahbi Khazri in all sorts of space early in the second half but he failed to make them pay with a header which went wide.The visitors had a couple of chances to regain the lead, but Paul Lasne's free-kick was not too difficult for Mickael Landreau to deal with, before a snap shot from the midfielder flashed wide with five minutes to go.A draw would have sealed Ajaccio's fate but Bastia really rubbed it in, with Squillaci heading home Khazri's 89th-minute free-kick.The defeat, Ajaccio's 20th of the season, leaves them with a measly 20 points from 34 matches. ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

AC Ajaccio 1-1 Bordeaux

Mehdi Mostefa's late equaliser earned Ajaccio a stay of execution in Ligue 1 as the Corsicans fought back to draw 1-1 with Bordeaux.Ajaccio's relegation would have been confirmed if they had failed to find a reply to Jussie's 62nd-minute opener. With five minutes remaining, the bottom club did muster a response - through Mostefa's superb volley.However, they were still left needing a miracle to survive - 15 points adrift of safety with only five games left.Ajaccio began brightly, with Joshua Nadeau sending a volley into the side-netting and Claude Dielna forcing the goalkeeper into a good save with a curling free-kick.It was not until just after the half-hour mark that Bordeaux threatened.First Guillaume Hoarau forced Guillermo Ochoa into a decent reflex save with a far-post header and then shortly afterwards Diego Rolan worked the Ajaccio goalkeeper again with a 20-yard shot.Benoit Pedretti stung the palms of Cedric Carrasso with a volley from just inside the area just before half-time, and the Bordeaux goalkeeper was called upon again the other side of the break to deny Mostefa.The visitors made the breakthrough when Jussie was on hand to volley home from close range following Gregory Sertic's far-post free-kick.Ajaccio were down at this stage, unless they could respond. But, following a goalmouth scramble in the 85th minute, the ball eventually fell at the feet of Mostefa, and the Algeria international sent a right-footed volley into the top corner.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Andre Ayew hits hat trick

Andre Ayew scored only the second hat-trick of his career as Marseille saw off bottom club Ajaccio 3-1 at Stade Velodrome on Friday. Having not won a game in their last seven, the OM faithful were in no mood for mediocrity and the Ghana international wasted no time in putting his fans at ease with a goal inside the opening minute before adding a second on the hour mark. Ajaccio's Junior Tallo offered hope with his fifth of the season moments later, but Ayew put any chance of a comeback to bed with little under quarter of an hour to play. Defeat for the visitors, a repeat scoreline of the reverse fixture in Corsica, leaves them 15 points adrift of safety at the foot of Ligue 1 with just 18 left to play for. Marseille had not scored a first-half goal in their last seven outings, but Jose Anigo's men soon ended that unwanted record when they raced into a first minute lead. Lucas Mendes released Ayew with a ball from deep and the Ghana international kept his calm to coolly lift the ball over the onrushing Guillermo Ochoa to set Marseille on their way. True to form, Ajaccio struggled early on and OM could easily have doubled their lead, but Ochoa made a smart stop from Ayew's 18-yard effort before Andre-Pierre Gignac wasted a great opportunity - inexplicably heading wide from six yards after Dimitri Payet picked him out from a corner. Despite their team leading, the Stade Velodrome crowd began to get more restless as the half wore on and Christian Bracconi's Ajaccio almost made it a very uncomfortable half-time for the hosts when Benjamin Andre's clever flick found Sigamary Diarra, but his 18-yard snapshot came back off the post with Steve Mandanda soundly beaten. Marseille had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down just after the restart when Gignac's shot appeared to strike Laurent Bonnart's hand before going wide, but Anigo's men did not have to wait much longer to double their lead. Payet was once again instrumental and it was his cross that found Ayew, who leapt highest to head beyond Ochoa with a clinical finish that helped settled the nerves of the restless natives. That two-goal cushion lasted a matter of seconds when the seemingly offside Tallo controversially slotted home after Mehdi Mostefa's blocked shot fell into his path. However, with just under 15 minutes left to play, Ayew added his third of the match to give Marseille some daylight. Substitute Mathieu Valbuena's free-kick found Brice Dja Djedje on the right and the full-back's powerful cross was turned home by OM's number 10 at the near post to wrap up the three points. ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

AC Ajaccio 2-2 Toulouse

Jonathan Zebina missed a stoppage time penalty which could have claimed a come-from-behind win for Toulouse at rock bottom Ajaccio.Zebina saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the third minute of added time as the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Ricardo Faty and Mehdi Mostefa had the home side in control before Issiaga Sylla and Clement Chantome hit back.The result leaves Corsican side Ajaccio at the bottom of the pile while Toulouse remained in eighth.Despite their lowly status, Ajaccio got off to an ideal start when Benjamin Andre fired a 40-yard free-kick into the box in the fourth minute, where the awaiting Faty smashed in a header.Toulouse then missed three good chances to level, with Ochoa saving from Etienne Didot when one-on-one before he denied Zebina from 25 yards.The post came to Ajaccio's rescue in the 29th minute when Chantome's volley smashed against the left upright and soon enough Ajaccio had doubled their lead and made Toulouse pay for their wastefulness.Claude Goncalves freed Gadji Tallo near the penalty area and he flicked to Mostefa, whose low drive beat Toulouse stopper Zacharie Boucher.However, the visitors hit back three minutes later through Sylla after Wissam Ben Yedder brought the ball inside the penalty area and took a shot. Ochoa blocked the forward's strike and parried the ball towards Sylla, who finished off from close range.The teams left the pitch at half-time with Ajaccio holding a 2-1 lead, but Chantome levelled in the 60th minute after a mistake from Faty saw him lose the ball to Ben Yedder. The Toulouse player crossed into the box where the awaiting Chantome slotted home.Both sides had another chance apiece before Toulouse squandered a penalty that would have won the match.Benjamin Andre conceded the spot-kick when he fouled Christopher Aurier, but Zebina was unable to convert the chance as Ochoa guessed his direction and made the save.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Nantes 2-2 AC Ajaccio

Sigamary Diarra struck a last-gasp equaliser as Ligue 1's whipping boys Ajaccio denied freefalling Nantes what would have been their first victory in eight matches.Nantes had taken just two points from a possible 21 to slump to within two spots of the drop zone, but they looked to have finally secured a win as goals from Serge Gakpe and Filip Djordjevic overturned Mehdi Mostefa's early opener for Ajaccio.However, with victory seemingly in their grasp, the 2001 French champions were denied right at the death when Diarra slotted home two minutes into stoppage time as the match finished 2-2.That late goal saw Nantes slip to within seven points of the relegation zone following third-bottom Valenciennes' win over Rennes, and completed a miserable few days for Les Canaris after seeing their appeal against a 16-month transfer embargo fail on Friday.Diarra's equaliser will not have brought rock-bottom Ajaccio much cheer either, though, as while it helped them avoid a fourth successive loss, results elsewhere mean they are now 10 points adrift of safety.For a brief while the Corsicans were on course for only their third win of the campaign after taking a fourth-minute lead through Mostefa, who headed home unmarked from a Benjamin Andre corner.The visitors were ahead for barely three minutes before Nantes drew level, though. Issa Cissokho took advantage of a poor clearance by the Ajaccio defence to send in a cross which Gakpe turned in on the run.Despite that quick setback, Ajaccio had two chances to get back in front either side of half-time but Ricardo Faty's shot was deflected just wide before Diarra's 25-yard effort was turned away by Remy Riou in the home goal.It was Nantes' turn to then go close in the 57th minute, and they should really have taken the lead with the unmarked Djordjevic somehow contriving to miss from six yards out when a goal looked certain.Djordjevic did much better six minutes later, but this time the ball crash against the post after he had connected sweetly on the volley.It proved to third time lucky for the Serbia international in the 76th minute, though, as he put Nantes ahead following a superb ball in from Jordan Veretout.And that looked set to be the match-winner, only for Diarra to stun them with a late leveller.The home defence failed to clear the danger and Diarra was perfectly placed to make the most of the chance as he tapped home from close range, leaving Nantes keeper Riou furious with his defenders and Les Canaris ever closer to the drop zone.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

AC Ajaccio 2-3 Lille

Salomon Kalou scored his first hat-trick in Ligue 1 as Lille came from behind to beat Ajaccio 3-2 in a bad-tempered affair at the Stade Francois-Coty.Despite falling behind to Junior Tallo's strike, the quickest goal this season in the French top-flight, Kalou's effort from open play was sandwiched by two penalties to secure a first win on the road since October.Remi Garde's team held on despite seeing Adama Soumaoro sent off late on.Tallo had offered the Corsicans hope just before the break when he scored his second of the game to send the teams in level but a contentious second-half spot-kick proved enough to eventually separate the two sides as Ajaccio boss Christian Baroni was sent to the stands for protests.The hosts wasted no time in exposing Lille's vulnerability on the road when Sigamary Diarra's teasing cross was met by Tallo inside the area and he dispatched a clinical first-time volley beyond Vincent Enyeama after just 40 seconds.Cedric Hengbart almost doubled the Corsicans' lead on the quarter hour but he headed wide from Johan Cavalli's cross and that miss proved costly just a few minutes later when Kalou levelled for the visitors.Cavalli took a tumble inside his own area before handling and the former Chelsea man made no mistake from the penalty spot for his seventh goal of the season.Ajaccio's wastefulness in front of goal continued and Benjamin Andre was guilty of one of the misses of the season when he somehow fired wide of an open goal and, as half-time approached, Lille took the lead for the first time in the match.Kalou began the move before Florent Balmont found Jonathan Deleplace whose cross was neatly tucked away at the back post by Lille's Ivorian striker for his second of the game.However, that lead lasted a matter of moments, in what was becoming a personal battle between two fellow internationals, when Andre benefited from some lapse Lille defending to nod into the path of Tallo who cleverly lifted the ball over Enyeama for his fourth of the season.Remi Garde's men continued to create chances in the second half and Kalou thought he had claimed his hat-trick with 65 minutes played but the linesman's flag went up but he did not have to wait much longer for that elusive third.With less than 20 minutes to play the visitors were awarded a dubious second penalty when Grenddy Perozo pulled back Roux before Kalou fired beyond Ochoa from 12 yards to claim his third of the game.Lille were reduced to ten men late on when Soumaoro's nasty-looking two-footed challenge left Dennis Oliech in a heap but Les Dogues held on to leapfrog St Etienne into third place.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Montpellier 2-0 AC Ajaccio

Montpellier remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 this year after an expected win over rock-bottom Ajaccio.Anthony Mounier and Remy Cabella struck in the second half to extend Montpellier's unbeaten run in the league to eight games.Montpellier have now not lost in Ligue 1 since coach Rolland Courbis' first game in charge against St Etienne on December 13.Victory over last-placed Ajaccio, who appear doomed to the drop, moved Courbis' resurgent side 10 points clear of relegation.They did have to wait until the second half to see off their struggling visitors, who threatened first when Ricardo Faty blasted a Johan Cavalli cross over after three minutes.Ajaccio goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa denied Montpellier a 19th-minute opener with a stunning save to keep out a M'Baye Niang header from Siaka Tiene's free-kick.Montpellier were lucky to remain level at half-time, when Faty headed inches wide just before the whistle.The hosts were better in the second half and after Niang shot straight at Ochoa, Mounier opened the scoring with 55 minutes on the clock.Cabella surged forward before his far-post cross was headed back by Niang for an unmarked Mounier to crash home from six yards.Ajaccio almost responded immediately as a right-footed Gadji Tallo shot was finger-tipped away by Geoffrey Jourdren.Montpellier's bid for a second goal was initially held up by Ochoa as he made a diving save to keep out a Tiene free-kick before Cabella also failed to beat him after good work from Morgan Sanson and Souleymane Camara.Cabella eventually confirmed the result in the fourth minute of injury time with a low volley from substitute Victor Montano's left-wing cross.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Lyon bounce back with win

#INSERT type:image caption:Gueida Fofana celebrates with Miguel Lopes after scoring Lyon's opener. END# Lyon put their midweek Coupe de France disappointment behind them with a comfortable 3-1 win over struggling Ajaccio at the Stade Gerland. After seeing his side dumped out of the cup by Ligue 2 Lens on Thursday, Remi Garde will have been looking for a response got one when Gueida Fofana opened the scoring just before half-time. Jimmy Briand doubled the hosts' lead with just over 20 minutes played and, despite Dennis Oliech pulling one back for the struggling Corsican side, Bafetimbi Gomis made sure of all three points just before the end. Lyon made a decent start and Gomis had the ball in the back of the net in the fifth minute when he headed Clement Grenier's pass beyond Guillermo Ochoa, but his effort was rightly ruled out for offside. Ajaccio hit back and Paul Lasne turned the ball on to Anthony Lopes' right post with his shoulder after Junior Tallo and Sigamary DIarra combined to set him up. Tthere was little else for the visitors to cheer, though, as Lyon dominated. Miguel Lopes brought a decent save from Ochoa before Fofana fired wide after Alexandre Lacazette did well to find him and their pressure finally paid off shortly before the interval. Lacazette was involved again and this time he found Fofana 20 yards out. Fofana took a touch before bending a superb shot beyond Ochoa for only his second goal of the season. The visitors almost hit back straight after the restart, but Tallo fluffed his lines when through on goal and Samuel Umtiti recovered in time to get back. Briand should have doubled Lyon's lead when he failed to get a decent connection from Henri Bedimo's cross just three yards out and Ochoa was able to save, but the France international made up for that just a minute later when he doubled the lead. Bedimo was the architect once again and, after getting to the byline, he crossed for Briand to score with a cushioned header into an empty net. Ajaccio were offered hope with less than 10 minutes to play when Johan Cavalli picked out Oliech with a clever pass and the Kenyan turned Milan Bisevac inside out before poking the ball beyond Lopes, but Gomis allayed any fears with just minutes to play. Briand was involved once again and he found Gomis, who beat Denis Tonucci cleverly before bending a clinical shot beyond Ochoa from the edge of the area for his 10th goal of the season. ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

AC Ajaccio 3-1 Stade Rennes

Struggling Ajaccio made it three games undefeated as they claimed their first league win since September with a 3-1 victory over Rennes.The bottom-of-the-table side remain nine points from safety but strikes from Ricardo Faty and Johan Cavalli, plus a goal of the season contender from Benjamin Andre, increased their hopes of an unlikely escape from the drop.Abdoulaye Doucoure responded for the visitors who were searching for back-to-back wins for the first time this season after last week's impressive 2-0 win over Lyon.Rennes had the first chance of the night as Paul George Ntep broke free of the hosts' defence to latch onto a neat Ola Toivonen pass but could only fire straight at Guillermo Ochoa from a decent position.Ajaccio took the lead in the 18th minute when Cavalli swung in a free-kick from the right touchline and Faty glanced a header beyond Benoit Costil.But the visitors equalised just after the half hour mark as the impressive Ntep delivered a teasing cross from the left of the penalty area and, after Cedric Hountondji saw his initial shot saved by Ochoa, Doucoure was left with a simple close-range finish.Parity was to last just three minutes though, with Andre producing something special to restore the lead.The midfielder was the recipient of a hopeful ball from Paul Lasne and he hit an unstoppable half-volley from a tight angle on the left which flew over Costil into the opposite far corner.Ten minutes after the break the hosts had a chance to extend their lead through Gadji Tallo who missed a glorious chance as he benefited from a mix-up in defence between Sylvain Armand and Houtondji but could only fire over the bar.The strugglers were well on top now and Andre nearly had his second but could not quite connect with Medhi Mostefa's delivery.The third goal looked like an inevitability and it eventually came with 13 minutes remaining as Cavalli beat Costil with a fine left-footed finish for his first goal of the season to wrap up the points.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Evian Thonon Gaillard 1-1 AC Ajaccio

Ligue 1 strugglers Evian and Ajaccio both scored late on as they played out a 1-1 draw at the Stade Francois Coty on Saturday night.Evian took the lead after 85 minutes following a Marco Ruben header before Gadji Tallo stuck back for Christian Bracconi's side in the dying moments for a much-needed point.The draw meant Pascal Dupraz's hosts took their winless run to eight games as they remain three points above the relegation zone with their lowly opponents four points adrift at the bottom after recording just one league win all season.Both sides took a while to settle into the match before the hosts had the first real chance to take the lead as Cedric Barbosa crossed the ball into the box for Tulio De Melo, whose header went just inches wide.Ajaccio came close with an effort of their own minutes later as Dennis Oliech laid the ball off to Mehdi Mostefa 30 yards out but he fired his low drive wide of the goal.The last real chance of the first half fell to Evian as Modou Sougou found De Melo inside the penalty area but he too shot slightly wide of the target.Evian striker De Melo forced a block from Oumar Sissoko minutes after the break, moments before Mostefa found Paul Lasne as Ajaccio pushed forward, but his long-range effort was blocked by Bertrand Laquait.And, after a short period of pressure, the home side took the lead through Ruben for his first goal of the season.Kevin Berigaud's long throw-in from the right found the Argentina striker at the near post and he made no mistake as he headed home to give his side the lead.But the visitors hit back at the death as Sigamary Diarra made a run down the left and crossed in for Tallo in the penalty box, who sent the ball into the back of the net from close range after 90 minutes to earn his side a point.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

AC Ajaccio 1-1 Sochaux

Ligue 1's rock bottom sides Ajaccio and Sochaux shared the points in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Stade Francois-Coty thanks to Vincent Nogueira's stoppage-time equaliser.Benjamin Andre got Ajaccio off to the perfect start in the eighth minute when he beat goalkeeper Simon Pouplin at the far post, and the Corsican side looked to have claimed their second win of the season until Nogueira levelled in the 93rd minute.The result keeps Ajaccio two points behind Sochaux, who are in turn nine points clear of safety.Valenciennes, the other side in the bottom three, played out a 1-1 draw themselves against Lorient.Ajaccio had a fantastic start when Johan Cavalli linked up well with Andre, who found some space at the far post to slide in the opener.Sochaux striker Cedric Bakambu had a chance to level things up at the other end in the 17th minute when he volleyed from the right of the area, with keeper Guillermo Ochoa slapping the ball away for a corner.Sochaux went closer still just before the half-time whistle when Nogueira's volley struck the bar, before Aboubakar Camara went close at the other end.After the break, Pierre-Alain Frau hit the bar from 25 yards out for Sochaux and he sent another effort over soon after.Ajaccio then had a chance, but Pouplin blocked Aboubacar Camara's overhead kick from the penalty spot.Sochaux had not given up on the game, though, and in the closing minutes Loic Poujol forced a save from Ochoa.However, the home stopper could not deny Nogueira, who cut in a shot at the far post from Carlao's corner in the third minute of stoppage time to salvage a point.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Coupe de France: Nice survive nine-goal thriller

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

Nice 2-0 AC Ajaccio

Ajaccio moved a step closer to the Ligue 1 relegation trapdoor on Saturday as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Nice.The visitors trailed after just five minutes to a Christian Bruls goal and, despite their best efforts, they were unable to equalise with Dario Cvitanich rounding off the win in the dying seconds.Nice are now unbeaten in their last four league matches as they continue the push for mid-table security, but bottom club Ajaccio are 11 points from safety and seemingly with no end in sight to their current poor form.The Corsicans endured the worst possible start as luck deserted them for the early opener. Bruls got some power to a 25-yard free-kick, which smashed the right post and then appeared to brush goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa's ankle on its way into the net.Ajaccio at least made a fight of it at the Allianz Riviera. Benjamin Andre's right-footed strike was kept out at full stretch by David Ospina, who then made another save on the half-hour to deny a low drive from Johan Cavalli.Cvitanich tried to put some distance between the two teams at the start of the second half but could only fire over from 25 yards.Ajaccio continued to create chances and Ospina was called upon again after 57 minutes, getting the better of Cavalli when one-on-one with the midfielder.Paul Lasne was the next player to try and make the breakthrough for the visitors and his volley fell inches wide of the right post.Ajaccio eventually ran out of steam, though, and they were made to pay in stoppage time when Cvitanich picked up a ball from Didier Digard. The Argentinian saw his first shot blocked by Ochoa but was on hand to slot home the rebound.ends

8Y
PA Sport

AC Ajaccio

SOCCER

PSG extend lead at the top

#INSERT type:image END# Paris St Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to five points with a hard-fought 2-1 win at bottom club Ajaccio. The home side have won just one league game all season but shocked the reigning champions as Eduardo fired them into a sixth-minute lead. • Johnson: <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/parissaint-germain/id/2009">Jinxed Ibra pulls strings in PSG win</a> They continued to frustrate PSG but Laurent Blanc's men levelled five minutes before the break through Ezequiel Lavezzi and Blaise Matuidi bagged the winner with 16 minutes to play. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the first chance of the game as he drove a powerful 30-yard free-kick goalwards but Guillermo Ochoa did well to get down and turn the ball around the post. Two minutes later, Ajaccio had the lead as Mehdi Mostefa charged down the right and found Benjamin Andre who supplied the ball for Eduardo to fire home at the far post. Gregory van der Wiel nearly had the visitors level within four minutes as he tried his luck from distance following a corner but Ochoa was again equal to it. The goalkeeper was enjoying an outstanding start to the game and was called upon again in the 10th minute when Matuidi set up Lavezzi but the Mexican made a stunning reflex save. Ibrahimovic had another chance from a set-piece just before the half-hour and saw his shot come back off the post before he had a hand in the equaliser. Matuidi freed the Swedish international with a through-ball and he guided a pass into the path of Lavezzi who was left with the simplest of tap-ins. The second-half started quietly but it was Ajaccio who came close to regaining the lead when Johan Cavalli released Eduardo and the Brazilian beat Alex before bringing a smart save from Salvatore Sirigu. It was PSG who took the lead, though, as Pastore found Ibrahimovic who headed the ball to Matuidi and the France international applied a header of his own to beat Ochoa. Eduardo found the side-netting with six minutes remaining as Ajaccio battled for an equaliser but they could not find a way to goal and remain rooted to the foot of the table. ends

8Y
PA Sport

Team	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Toulouse	38	23	10	5	+49	79
AC Ajaccio	38	22	9	7	+20	75
AJ Auxerre	38	21	11	6	+22	74
Paris FC	38	20	10	8	+19	70
Sochaux	38	19	11	8	+13	68
Guingamp	38	15	13	10	+4	58
Caen	38	13	11	14	+9	50
Le Havre AC	38	13	11	14	-3	50
Nimes	38	14	7	17	-7	49
Pau	38	14	7	17	-8	49
Dijon FCO	38	13	8	17	-5	47
Bastia	38	10	16	12	+2	46
Niort	38	12	10	16	-3	46
SC Amiens	38	9	17	12	+2	44
Grenoble	38	12	8	18	-12	44
Valenciennes	38	10	14	14	-13	44
Rodez Aveyron	38	10	13	15	-10	43
US Quevilly	38	10	10	18	-17	40
Dunkerque	38	8	7	23	-25	31
AS Nancy Lorraine	38	6	9	23	-37	27

AC Ajaccio

Fixtures

Ajaccio forfeit home field in promotion playoff

Ligue 2 playoff postponed after fans halt bus

Ajaccio win appeal to remain in Ligue 2

Coupe de France: Falcao goal lifts Monaco

St Etienne 2-1 Ajaccio: Winner on 120 min.

Toulouse progress in Coupe de la Ligue

Sainati gets 16-month ban for punches

St Etienne 3-1 AC Ajaccio

AC Ajaccio 2-1 Stade de Reims

Lorient 1-0 AC Ajaccio

Berbatov inspires with double

Bastia 2-1 AC Ajaccio

AC Ajaccio 1-1 Bordeaux

Andre Ayew hits hat trick

AC Ajaccio 2-2 Toulouse

Nantes 2-2 AC Ajaccio

AC Ajaccio 2-3 Lille

Montpellier 2-0 AC Ajaccio

Lyon bounce back with win

AC Ajaccio 3-1 Stade Rennes

Evian Thonon Gaillard 1-1 AC Ajaccio

AC Ajaccio 1-1 Sochaux

Coupe de France: Nice survive nine-goal thriller

Nice 2-0 AC Ajaccio

PSG extend lead at the top

Riad NouriM #5

Gaetan CourtetF #9

Jean-Phillipe KrassoF #17