Ligue 1 match report: Pesic strikes late for Toulouse

Toulouse moved up to 16th in Ligue 1 as Aleksandar Pesic's late goal secured them a 2-1 home win over Rennes.

It had seemed Oscar Trejo's early strike would steer Alain Casanova's men to only a second victory in nine league games until substitute Ola Toivonen levelled with a volley eight minutes from time.

Pesic, though, restored the hosts' advantage a minute later on the follow-up after Tongo Doumbia's header hit the bar.

The result sees Toulouse rise one place in the table, although they are still only two points clear of the relegation zone, with 18th-placed Evian having also won on Saturday.

Rennes, meanwhile, stay 12th and their winless run in the league has now extended to nine matches.

Toulouse had already gone close, with a Pesic overhead kick just clearing the bar, when they took the early lead through Trejo, who picked up the ball on the right of the area, got the better of Fallou Diagne and sent a low shot past Benoit Costil.

Rennes looked to respond swiftly but Ali Ahamada punched a Pedro Henrique strike clear with firm hands.

Costil made a save in the 23rd minute to deny Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, and pulled off an even better stop on the line just after the hour mark to keep out Dragos Grigore's far-post header.

At the other end, Henrique directed a header inches wide and team-mate Paul-Georges Ntep went just as close with a shot from the edge of the box.

Rennes' pressure subsequently paid off as Steven Moreira crossed from the right and Toivonen beat team-mate Habib Habibou in the air to win the ball, before volleying it low beyond Ahamada.

Seconds later, though, the visitors were behind once more, Adrien Regattin delivering a corner from the right to instigate a goalmouth scramble. Doumbia sent the ball against the woodwork and Pesic pounced with a close-range finish as the Rennes defenders failed to clear properly.