Sun shines for Sochaux

Stoppila Sunzu's late goal earned Sochaux three points in their battle to beat relegation from Ligue 1 as they beat Guingamp 1-0.

Stoppila Sunzu's late goal earned Sochaux a vital three points in their battle to beat relegation from Ligue 1 as they beat Guingamp 1-0. The Zambia defender became the hosts' likeliest source of a goal as the game neared its conclusion, and finally found the breakthrough with six minutes remaining. The win takes Herve Renard's 19th-placed side within five points of 17th-placed Evian and eight behind their opponents. Sunzu was almost the villain earlier in the piece when he misjudged a cross and presented Mustapha Yatabare with a clear sight of goal, but the Guingamp forward shot over. Sochaux were in the ascendancy for the remainder of the first half, though, first when Sebastien Roudet's free-kick was headed goalwards by Roy Contout but saved by Mamadou Samassa. The same two players linked up from another set-piece soon afterwards, Contout volleying Roudet's corner just wide. Roudet was at the centre of everything and it was his pass that created a chance for on-loan Marseille forward Jordan Ayew, who went past Christophe Kerbrat but saw Samassa save to preserve the goalless half-time scoreline. Ayew was in the action again early in the second half, racing on to Contout's pass and firing just a fraction wide of the left-hand post. Rachid Alioui's header at the other end was saved by Yohann Pele but the chance was only a brief respite for Guingamp. Sunzu fired into the side-netting from another Roudet corner and saw another close-range effort blocked well by Samassa. But from an 84th-minute free-kick, awarded when Reynald Lemaitre fouled Pierre-Alain Frau, Sunzu climbed unmarked to head the ball past Samassa for the only goal.