Dramatic win for Lorient

Lorient leapfrogged Nice in the Ligue 1 standings thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory.

Lorient leapfrogged Nice in the Ligue 1 standings thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday night. Both teams came into the match without a win in their last four league matches and it was the visitors who stopped the rot courtesy of Vincent Aboubakar's winner two minutes into stoppage-time. Gilles Sunu and Timothee Kolodziejczak had earlier exchanged first-half goals as both sides searched for the win that would take them a big step towards mathematically securing their survival this season. Lorient now sit 11 points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining, while their opponents are one place and two points below them. The visitors opened the scoring in the 19th minute as Jeremie Aliadiere found Sunu around 25 yards out and the winger strode forward before unleashing a shot into the top corner. Nice were level after half an hour, though, when Kolodziejczak got on the end of a free-kick from Valentin Eysseric and finished from close range. The duo combined again five minutes later and the full-back nearly had his second when he let fly from 25 yards but Fabien Audard was equal to his effort. Lorient started the second half the brighter but it was the home side who nearly went ahead as Neal Maupay released Jeremy Pied inside the penalty area, but the midfielder skied over the bar with just David Ospina to beat. That was to be as good as it got for Claude Puel's men as Lorient dominated the closing stages. First Alain Traore brushed the post with a stunning volley from the edge of the box and then Aliadiere fired straight at Ospina with five minutes to go. The goal did eventually come in stoppage-time and it was one to remember as Aboubacar beat two men on the edge of the area before slotting a low finish into the bottom corner.