It was a close game at the Stade de la Moustoir, but Brest came through with the late winner despite not playing at their very best away from home. The first clear chance of the game came the way of Les Merlus as Katseris drove inside the box and set up Ponceau for a strike on goal, but a superb stop from Brest keeper Marco Bizot kept the score level on his 100th appearance in France. Lorient kept up the pressure with more possession and claimed a penalty for a handball by Chardonnet.

The referee would look at the video replay and decide against giving a penalty to the hosts, sending off Lorient's assistant coach Yannick Cahuzac in the process. After another period of dominance, the home side would get even closer as Julien Ponceau's strike rattled the post just before half-time.

With the derby going into the break at 0-0 it would have been Lorient fans feeling more confident as the second half commenced at Stade de la Moustoir. Yet it was Brest who came with the first chance, as Isaak Touré was needed to clear Mehdi Camara's downward header off the line from a corner. It was a sign of things to come as the pendulum began to swing in the favour of the away side.

Eric Roy's substitutes prove decisive

Both managers then decided to roll the dice, as Eric Roy decided to introduce the attacking trio of Steve Mounié, Romain Del Castillo, and Kamory Doumbia (who previously scored four in the earlier fixture between these two sides this season). Meanwhile, Le Bris brought on Eli Junior Kroupi, Ayman Kari, and Bamba Dieng.

Bizot would have to be on hand again in the final ten minutes, as Yongwa's shot stung the palms of Brest's Dutch international goalkeeper. The hammer blow would come in the final five minutes of the game through a combination of Brest's two substitutes. Doumbia served a precise ball to Del Castillo on the break, who weaved into the box and finished emphatically into the left side-netting (86'). There was little time for Les Merlus to try and get back into the game but a lofted cross to the back post was met by Yongwa – yet the imperial Bizot made his third crucial save of the game to ensure the three points for Les Pirates.

THE STAT

Stade Brestois became the first Breton club to reach the 50-point mark after 27 matches played in Ligue 1 Uber Eats (the closest was Stade Rennais in the 2010-2011 season). Les Pirates stay second in the table and look on course for a European finish this season!