French Ligue 1: Nantes in high spirits after 2-1 win at Lorient

Nantes headed into the winter break in high spirits thanks to 2-1 win at Lorient on Saturday night.

Johan Audel was their hero, scoring the winner with 11 minutes left, just four minutes after climbing off the bench.

Prior to that, Lorient had looked good for a point after Jordan Ayew (72) cancelled out Yacine Bammou's opener for the visitors just before half-time.

Nantes skip up to seventh in the Ligue 1 standings, while Lorient linger dangerously in a lower half that is starting to squash up.

They can take heart from this defeat, though, having played their part in an entertaining clash.

Bammou and Yohan Wachter traded early chances, with the latter particularly unlucky to see his drive, after an Ayew flick, cleared off the line by Oscar Vizcarrondo.

Nantes then took a grip on things, Jordan Veretout curling in a 25-yarder that Benjamin Lecomte did a great job of clawing away.

That was a pre-curser to the opener as Bammou cashed in on a Wachter error to break through and tuck in from close range.

Lorient responded, Benjamin Jeannot getting in but being denied by Remy Riou.

The action continued to flow and Ayew teed up Ismael Bangoura who should have done better, before Ayew struck.

Lamine Gassama swung in a cross from the left and Ayew was on the spot to rise the highest and nod in.

The same man then hit the bar with a header as Lorient came on strong, but they were ultimately crushed as Audel was freed in the box by Georges Kevin N'Koudou and slapped in a brilliant, first-time winner.