Toulouse earn late draw

Toulouse scored twice in the final five minutes to snatch a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Troyes.

Toulouse scored twice in the final five minutes to snatch a point in a dramatic finish to their Ligue 1 encounter with Troyes. Goals from Eden Ben Basat and Etienne Didot, the latter an 88th-minute equaliser, stunned struggling Troyes, who had looked set to claim a much-needed win in a match they dominated. The game burst into life with little more than 10 minutes remaining as the visitors finally got the breakthrough they deserved thanks to substitute Mohamed Yattara's 78th-minute opener. Benjamin Nivet made it two five minutes later, but the team with the second worst defensive record in the French top flight could not hold on in the closing stages. The draw left Toulouse in 12th and Troyes second bottom, four points from safety. Troyes, despite their lowly position, went into the game unbeaten in three in the league and took the game to their opponents. Fabien Camus curled a free-kick just over the top before Nivet had a long-range effort, which was on target, deflected away by defender Adil Hermach. Camus then delivered a good ball for Stephane Darbion on the edge of the area and his volley was cleared away by Cheikh M'Bengue. The visitors continued to press in the second half, Nivet crossing for Julien Faussurier to drive a low shot just wide when in front of goal. The influential Nivet then teed up Corentin Jean, whose powerful hit from the edge of the area was blocked by goalkeeper Ali Ahamada. The keeper then turned behind an effort from Yattara, just off the bench. But the substitute did not have to wait much longer to break the deadlock, Camus doing well down the left before freeing Yattara inside the area and the teenage striker, on loan from Lyon, finished well. The two players combined again in an 83rd-minute counter-attack as Troyes doubled their lead, Ahamada pushing Yattara's away only as far as Nivet, who fired home the rebound. But, with a vital three points in sight, Troyes contrived to concede twice. First Ben Basat shot home, getting a second chance after his initial free-kick had come back off a post and, two minutes later, Didot got in down the right of the area and lifted a shot over keeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien. Nivet's efforts to clear the ball off the line were in vain as Toulouse grabbed a scarcely deserved point.