Ligue 1: Bastia were denied a third win in four matches after conceding a late equaliser at Toulouse.

Image: Martin Braithwaite celebrates his equaliser

Upwardly-mobile Bastia were denied a third win in four Ligue 1 matches after conceding a late equaliser at fellow relegation battlers Toulouse.

Bastia had been victorious in five of their previous seven league and cup matches, while drawing the other two, and they were on course for another triumph after taking the lead at the Stadium de Toulouse through Ali Ahamada's own goal.

Toulouse, having lost eight of their previous 11 league games, refused to give up, though, and Martin Braithwaite's equaliser 13 minutes from time salvaged a 1-1 draw for the hosts.

Despite the apparent contrast in form of the two sides, it was Toulouse who enjoyed the better of the first half and Alexis Blin was inches away from giving the hosts a spectacular early lead when his fourth-minute volley from the edge of the box flew just wide.

Dragos Grigore then drew a good save out of Bastia goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca from a free-kick before Adrien Regattin saw his 20-yard effort brush the crossbar on its way over.

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Bastia, meanwhile, could only produce one effort to seriously trouble the home side and even then Julian Palmieri - who scored twice in last weekend's shock win over Paris St Germain - was unable to get his shot on target as the ball cleared the bar.

It was a different story after the break, though, with Bastia needing just five minutes of the second half to open the scoring.

Leca's long punt forward found Floyd Ayite, whose cross picked out Famoussa Kone in the middle and although his shot came back off the post, it struck home goalkeeper Ahamada before rebounding over the line.

That looked set to be the match-winner as Toulouse struggled to create much going forward, but in the 77th minute they were given a helping hand by the Bastia defence and substitute Braithwaite took full advantage.

Bastia carelessly lost possession and Denmark international Braithwaite, who had been on the pitch less than 10 minutes, picked the ball up before racing towards goal and unleashing a 20-yard strike past Leca.

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