Kwon Chang-hoon scored in the final minute to give Dijon FCO a 2-1 win over RC Strasbourg Alsace at the Stade Gaston Gérard, securing a crucial three-point haul for Antoine Kombouaré's side in the battle against relegation.
Dijon FCO 2-1 RC Strasbourg Alsace
THE MATCH
Dijon were five points adrift of outright safety at kick-off, but were obviously keen to rectify that in the early running, with Julio Tavares heading Oussama Haddadi's cross narrowly off target (4') Wesley Saïd kept Matz Sels on his toes with a fizzing effort from range (13'). Ludovic Ajorque then had a chance for the Coupe de la Ligue winners at the other end, but his shot on the turn was comfortably saved by Runar Runarsson (14'). When Runarsson was beaten later in the half - by a fizzing Lebo Mothiba shot - Jordan Marié was on hand to turn the South Africa striker's effort out for a corner (33'). It was Dijon who took the lead, though. Adrien Thomasson fouled Naïm Sliti in the box and Dijon captain Julio Tavares stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick (40'). Thomasson nearly made good on his blunder minutes later when he floated the ball into the area for Mothiba, but his teammate was denied at the last moment (41'). Ajorque then hit the post (45') and the sides went in for half-time with the visitors the more frustrated party.
Kwon's late winner
The second half was young when Ajorque turned provider for Anthony Gonçalves. The midfielder let fly from the edge of the box but Runarsson was able to save in instalments (55'). Thierry Laurey sent Nuno da Costa and Youssouf Fofana on just past the hour in an attempt to force a way through, and Le Racing were back on level terms soon after, although it was Ajorque who was the deserved scorer, the striker getting the break of the ball on the box following a corner and guiding home his ninth goal of the campaign - eight of which have come this year (68'). Strasbourg piled on the pressure as the game entered its final 30 minutes. Gonçalves forced another save from Runarsson after picking up on a poor clearance from the hosts (74'). Ajorque then blazed off target with the goal at his mercy after Marié had cleared Stefan Mitrovic's header off the line (76'). Mothiba then beat Runarsson - and the Icelander's goal frame - with a header (80'), and the visitors' profligacy was punished at the death when Kwon latched onto a long ball forward and shot, his deflected effort finding its way past Sels to snatch a 2-1 victory (90'+4).
THE PLAYER: Jordan Marié
Kwon's winner will get the headlines and Runarsson deserves enormous praise for his eight saves in a crucial win, but Marié making not one, but two goal-line clearances takes the biscuit. Already something of a local hero who has more than 150 games for Dijon under his belt across French football's top two divisions, the midfielder could yet extend his appearance record in Ligue 1 Conforama, and Saturday's result could prove crucial to that end.
THE STAT: 9
This was Dijon's first victory over Strasbourg in nine attempts in all competitions. The last time Les Rouges got the better of the Alsatians was back in May 2007, when they beat them 3-1 in Domino's Ligue 2.