LOSC rebounded from last Sunday's thrashing at Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 victory at AC Ajaccio. Yusuf Yasici, Jonathan Bamba and Tiago Djalo got their goals at the Stade François Coty.
AC Ajaccio 1-3 LOSC
THE MATCH
Lille's long journey from the north of France to Corsica might have felt even more spirit-sapping had Léo Jardim not leapt across his goal to deny Vincent Marchetti the opening goal for the hosts early on (7'), but les Dogues soon settled into their stride. Jonathan David had what might have been his third goal in as many games ruled out for offside (11') before Yusuf Yazici made it 1-0 with a wonder-goal, teeing himself up for a volley on the spin which left Jardim's opposite number Benjamin Leroy with no chance (17'). Ajaccio thought they had a penalty claim when Mickaël Alphonse and Ismaily collided in the visitors' box awaiting a corner, but it was waved away by referee Thomas Léonard after video review (27'). Ajaccio could even have had an equaliser when Mounaïm El Idrissy's miscued a header from a fine Alphonse cross (36'), but instead Lille punished their profligacy at the end of the half when Ismaily teed up Jonathan Bamba for 2-0 (44').
Lille pull clear
Ajaccio had looked better than the scoreline might suggest in the first half and they had the first good chance of the second when Alphonse sent another cross in for El Idrissy, this time the forward unable to connect (48'). Ajaccio coach Olivier Pantaloni then attempted to change things up just past the hour, bringing on Riad Nouri, Mohamed Youssouf and Kouamé Botué, with Alphonse and El Idrissy two of those, perhaps surprisingly, making way (63'). The hosts hit the crossbar minutes later when Fernand Mayembo rose highest to meet a corner (65') but any hopes of a comeback were soon dashed when Djalo volleyed home after Yazici's free-kick had been cleared out to him (67'). Botué hit the outside side-netting at the other end (78') before Cyrille Bayala headed home a consolation (84'). David missed a late penalty (89') and it ended 3-1.
THE PLAYER: Yusuf Yazici
Yazici has often looked like a scorer of great goals rather than a great scorer of goals - even if he did hit eight in 10 games on loan at CSKA Moscow last season - but if Paulo Fonseca can get him to fuse both, he will have a serious player on his hands. The kind of Turkish delight on display tonight is exactly what fans pay money to consume.
THE STAT: 8
Lille have now won each of their last eight matches against Ajaccio in all competitions. The last time L'ours came out of hibernation against les Dogues was back in May 2005, when Abdelnasser Ouadah and Martial Robin scored in a surprise 2-0 win over that season's Ligue 1 Uber Eats runners-up at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
