Lorient thrashed at Bastia

Lorient's worst start to a Ligue 1 season took another forgettable turn as they were hammered by Bastia in Corsica.

Lorient's worst start to a Ligue 1 season took another forgettable turn as they were hammered by Bastia in Corsica. The struggling visitors just about held a grip in the game at half-time when Mathieu Coutadeur pulled a goal back after Ryad Boudebouz and Wahbi Khazri's penalty rewarded Bastia's dominance. But the hosts took charge after the break with Milos Krasic and Romaric on target before Larry Azouni saw red for a sliding studs-up tackle on Julian Palmieri. Victory ensured Bastia remained unbeaten at home the the league this season. The home side were ahead after just six minutes when a quickly taken free-kick caught Lorient's defence back-tracking. Palmieri's cross top the top of the area was cleverly flicked on by Gianni Bruno for Boudebouz to crash home his first goal for Bastia. Bastia continued to attack and, when Boudebouz's stunning 30-yarder crashed off the crossbar, Khazri was first to the ball only to be felled by Lamine Gassama. Khazri took the spot-kick and expertly sent a dinked chip down the middle as Fabien Audard obligingly dived out of the way to his right. Lorient were being outplayed but went into half-time just a goal behind thanks to a stroke of luck as Coutadeur's long-range shot deflected off Francois Modesto and over goalkeeper Mickael Landreau. Bastia quickly re-established their two-goal advantage after half-time, although Audard initially made a fine double stop to deny Khazri, before his third effort was cleared off the line by Ecuele Manga. It mattered little as Krasic made it 3-1 on 59 minutes. Audard was beaten by a subtle touch again, Krasic chipping over him after Bruno's backheel had sent him clear into the area. Romaric grabbed a fourth for his side 10 minutes from the end when he met Boudebouz's corner at the near post and Lorient's night got even worse when Azouni was given his marching orders for a challenge that left Palmieri with stud marks down his left shin.