Rennes leave it late

Two late goals by Romain Alessandrini and Mevlut Erding guided Rennes to their first victory in three games as they beat Toulouse 2-0.

Two late goals by Romain Alessandrini and Mevlut Erding guided Rennes to their first victory in three games as they beat Toulouse in Ligue 1. Alessandrini struck 11 minutes from time pouncing on a rare error by Toulouse goalkeeper Ali Ahamada before Erding volleyed home five minutes later to confirm victory and leave the visitors winless in three matches. It was the hosts who started the better, Ahamada making the first save of the game from Alessandrini's right-footed strike before the keeper denied Sadio Diallo's snap shot from distance. However, Toulouse almost went ahead midway through the half, Etienne Didot volleying a low shot against the post from Franck Tabanou's pass. The visitors were then inches from taking the lead just before half-time when Wissam Ben Yedder's curled free-kick went just over the bar. The second half belonged to Rennes. Erding's low drive was repelled by Ahamada, Alessandrini's volley on the edge of the box was deflected away by the Toulouse defence before Julien Feret was inches from pouncing on Jean Makoun's deflected volley. Frederic Antonetti's side went even closer a little over a quarter of an hour from time when Alessandrini headed Kevin Theophile-Catherine's cross on to the far post. Erding's low shot was then blocked by Ahamada as Rennes laid siege to the Toulouse goal which was eventually breached after 79 minutes. Costil's long kick was flicked on by Feret in the six-yard box and, after all his heroics, Ahamada made a poor clearance and Alessandrini kicked the ball into the empty net. The hosts wrapped up victory five minutes later when Abdoulaye Sane's cross to the far post found Erding who volleyed home past a stranded Ahamada.