Bastia vs Sochaux. French Ligue 1.
Stade Armand-Cesari-Furiani.
Sunday 26 May 2013 23:45, UK
Sochaux gained the point they needed to stay up with an uninspiring goalless draw in Bastia.
Sochaux gained the point they needed to stay up with an uninspiring goalless draw in Bastia. The visitors knew a point would be enough to secure their Ligue 1 status for another season and, despite struggling for much of the game, Eric Hely's team got the result they needed, although results elsewhere meant they could have afforded to lose. Bastia's Florian Thauvin began the game impressively and his powerful half-volley forced Simon Pouplin to punch the ball away inside five minutes. Thauvin was involved again half an hour in when Anthony Modeste tried to pick him out at the far post, but the diminutive forward was inches away from punishing the visitors. Frederic Hantz's men did get the ball in the net moments later when Jeremy Choplin headed Thauvin's corner beyond Pouplin, but it was ruled out for a foul, much to the annoyance of the hosts. Sochaux were desperately unlucky not to take the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Ryad Boudebouz's superb 25-yard free-kick came back off the bar with Landry Bonnefoi well beaten. With the game petering out, it was the hosts who were looking the more likely to grab a winner and Modeste went close with a turn and shot which Pouplin saved well, although the flag was up anyway. Sochaux were almost undone at the death when Toifilou got a superb shot on target, but his effort was matched in its quality by the save of Pouplin and the visitors held on for a point.
