Bastia denied by Sochaux

Rock-bottom Sochaux claimed a valuable point as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Bastia.

Rock-bottom Sochaux claimed a valuable point as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Bastia in Saturday's Ligue 1 clash at the Stade Bonal. Ryad Boudebouz scored the opening goal for Bastia in the 31st minute and they looked to be on course for an away victory until Emmanuel Mayuka levelled for the strugglers in the 74th minute. The result leaves Sochaux bottom of the pile but they moved level on points with Ajaccio with eight, and are now six points adrift of Lorient in 17th place. Bastia has the best of the early chances when Christian Romaric controlled Wahbi Khazri's cross in only the second minute and fired towards goal, only to be denied by Sochaux keeper Simon Pouplin. Khazri then found Boudebouz 25 yards out, with the midfielder taking aim only for Pouplin to make the save. Sochaux's first chance came in the 20th minute when Sanjin Prcic freed Emmanuel Mayuka with a long ball, with the latter beating Francois Modesto as he raced towards goal, only to be blocked by Bastia stopper Mickael Landreau. Bastia then broke the deadlock through Boudebouz after he pounced on the ball which was parried by Pouplin from Milos Krasic's cross. The Algeria international was waiting in the middle of the area and put the ball past the goalkeeper, who was left flailing on the floor. Rafael Dias almost levelled for Sochaux just before the half-time whistle with a 25-yard strike but Landreau kept the ball out at full stretch. After the break, Krasic put the ball over the bar early in the second half, but it was Sochaux who found the back of the net when Petrus Boumal Mayega crossed towards Mayuka, who beat Landreau with a powerful strike. Both sides had another chance apiece to claim the winner, but they were unable to find another breakthrough, with the points instead shared.