Sochaux upset Nantes

Sochaux defied the Ligue 1 form book to claim only their third league victory of the season over Nantes, emerging as 1-0 victors.

Sochaux defied the Ligue 1 form book to claim only their third league victory of the season over high-flying Nantes, emerging as 1-0 victors. The visitors may have been distracted by their upcoming Coupe de la Ligue semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they paid the price as Stopilla Sunzu scored the winner on the stroke of half-time. With Sochaux remain rooted in the bottom three, still seven points from safety, this result has more impact at the top of the table as Nantes fall seven points off the top-four race. Nantes had dominated the opening stages, with Pierrick Cros doing well to keep out a powerful Alejandro Bedoya header before Ismael Bangoura fired narrowly wide. In the 25th minute, Bangoura did manage to beat Cros but this time Carlao scrambled back to clear the ball off the line. They were rewarded moments before the break when Sunzu found space to head in Sebastien Roudet's free-kick. Nantes resumed their onslaught early in the second half but Cros was equal to a header from Bedoya after a good run from Olivier Veigneau. Sochaux had their only other chance of the match in the 57th minute when Jordan Ayew broke forward, but Remy Riou turned his shot away. Nantes had further opportunities to level soon after, but Cros twice denied Serge Gakpe as Sochaux hung on for a morale-boosting win.