Ajaccio slump to away defeat

Ten-man Lorient dealt sorry Ajaccio yet another defeat as Jeremie Aliadiere's early goal settled the contest.

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.