Caen leave it late

Newly-promoted Caen maintained their impressive start to the Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-0 victory at Reims.

Ngolo Kante and Herve Bazile netted inside the final seven minutes to give the visitors maximum points from this contest at Stade Auguste Delaune.

Caen started brightly and had the game's first chance in the 18th minute, when Julien Feret saw his left-footed effort just bend away from the top corner of Johnny Placide's goal.

In the 31st minute Reims defender Mickael Tacalfred relinquished possession under pressure but Bengali-Fode Koita wasted the opening when he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Lenny Nangis volleyed over for Caen seven minutes before the interval - but the hosts had the final chance of the half just before the turnaround when Remy Vercoutre produced an excellent reflex save to deny Gaetan Charbonnier, who had been set up by Prince Oniangue.

Ten minutes into the second half Charbonnier volleyed over from eight yards after good work by Franck Signorino and a minute later Diego's free-kick eluded everyone - including Vercoutre - but the ball struck the bar.

Midway through the second half Reims goalkeeper Johnny Placide did well to turn a Koita shot away for a corner.

With 10 minutes remaining Diego tried his luck direct from a 20-yard free-kick but Vercoutre punched the ball clear.

However, the visitors finished strongly and took the points with the last two chances of the game.

Bazile's creativity set up Kante to clinically beat Placide with a low finish from inside the area and break the deadlock in the 83rd minute.

And with seconds remaining, Bazile made the points safe with the simplest of finishes.