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AC Ajaccio
Ligue 1
Sep 29, 2013 at 4pm UK
 
Montpellier

1-1

Zubar (36')
Goncalves (9')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Cabella (10' pen.)
Jebbour (38')

Live Commentary: Ajaccio 1-1 Montpellier - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the Ligue 1 clash between Ajaccio and Montpellier HSC.
2

Ajaccio hosted Montpellier HSC on Sunday with both sides looking to try to move away from the relegation places.

The hosts sat inside the bottom three but went into the match off the back of obtaining their first win of the season against Lyon, while the away side were two points clear of safety in 15th but without a victory in their previous four matches.

However, the two sides were forced to settle for a point in an eventful match at Stade Francois Coty.

Read how the game unfolded in our live commentary below.


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Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Stade Francois Coty where Ajaccio host Montpellier HSC in Ligue 1.

This match marks the second game of the French top tier today following Nantes' earlier victory in the Brittany derby over Rennes, but the first match that I will be taking you through the full 90 minutes. Make sure you stay with Sports Mole today where I will bring you AS Monaco's trip to Reims later this evening.

But enough of that for now, as our attention is at Stade Francois Coty where both Ajaccio and Montpellier will try to push themselves away from the relegation zone. Ajaccio sit in the bottom three but will be full of confidence after Fabrizio Ravanelli's side got their first win of the season against Lyon during the week. Montpellier are two points above the drop zone, but they haven't won in their past four outings. Big game today.

Both managers find themselves under pressure and will be desperate to pick up a victory today.

Right, time for team news, starting with the home side.

AJACCIO XI: Ochoa, Crescenzi, Dielna, Popescu, Zubar, Andre, Arrache, Cavalli, Goncalves, Lasne, Mostefa

So head coach Ravanelli makes just one change to the side that beat Lyon on Wednesday.

Sigamary Diarra drops out of the squad, and is replaced by Stefan Popescu. Ravanelli also resists the temptation to bring Benoit Pedretti, who was on the bench against Lyon, back into the starting XI after recovering from injury.

AJACCIO BENCH: Sissoko, Bonnart, Perozo, Deville, Pierazzi, Belghazouani, Camara

So that's what the hosts have gone with, now let's bring you the visitors.

MONTPELLIER XI: Jourdren, Congre, El Kaoutari, Hilton, Jebbour, Bakar, Cabella, Marveaux, Sanson, Stambouli, Camara

Jean Fernandez makes two changes to his team following their goalless draw with Rennes on Thursday.

Anthony Mounier and Victor Hugo Montano both drop to the bench, with Souleymane Camara and Benjamin Stambouli preferred in the first XI.

Tiene is still serving his suspension, while Joris Marveaux retains his spot in the side.

The two teams are out at Stade Francois Coty, and we're ready for kick off.

KICKOFF! We're underway in this match with Ajaccio, in all white, playing to the left and Montpellier, in navy and orange, shooting to the right.

Strong start from Ajaccio, who want to continue their recent momentum early on here. Some good play from them has seen the hosts earn a few early corners.

Still Ajaccio dominate the early stages of the match. Montpellier seem to really lack communication and organisation, with their clearances being mainly down to luck and hacking the ball anywhere.

PENALTY TO MONTPELLIER! RED CARD FOR AJACCIO!

It's all kicked off in this match, and it's worked in the favour of the away side. Remy Cabella cuts in from the left and has two pops at goal. It is twice cleared off the line, but the referee deems one of them to be with a hand. Claude Goncalves has been sent off for the home side.

Cabella, who won the penalty, is going to take this himself.

GOAL! Ajaccio 0-1 Montpellier HSC (Remy Cabella)

It's against the run of play, but Montpellier have the lead. Ochoa guessed the right way, but Cabella squeezed it past him into the corner of the net.

It's been a good response from Ajaccio, who are straight back on the attack.

OFF THE POST! Ajaccio almost find an instant leveller, as a free kick from the byline is whipped in from the left, where Zubar rises in the centre to send a powerful header crashing against the post. Montpellier can then scramble it clear.

SAVE! Montpellier now come forward as Sanson beats the high Ajaccio line and bares down on goal. He if forced to the left by the defence, but manages to get his shot away. However, Ochoa is on hand to make the block.

YELLOW CARD Jebbour goes into the book for hacking down his man on the touchline.

YELLOW CARD Ronald Zubar picks up a yellow after sending Bakar flying. To be fair to the Ajaccio man, I'm not sure that warranted a booking, it wasn't exactly late and looked a good challenge.

The resulting free kick is taken from the left touchline and floated into the box, but Ajaccio can clear their lines before winning a throw.

CLOSE! Ajaccio come fractions away from a stunning leveller. Lasne has the ball in the centre of the Montpellier half, and smashes an effort with his left boot which curls just wide of the top corner.

Montpellier have improved dramatically since the start of this match and have had a number of good attacking plays themselves. Cabella and Sanson are causing problems for the Ajaccio backline, while Camara has just headed a corner over for La Paillade.

GOAL! Ajaccio 1-1 Montpellier HSC (Ronald Zubar)

The 10 men are level and it's the former Wolves man who has got the equaliser. A free kick from the right touchline is clipped into the far post, where Zubar nods a bouncing header across the face of goal and into the past corner. Game on.

RED CARD TO MONTPELLIER!

What a couple of minutes for Ajaccio, who are level in terms of goals scored and players on the field. Jebbour, who was already on a yellow card, goes recklessly into a challenge and picks up a second booking for his carelessness.

What a crazy first half this has been so far. Certainly a lot going on.

That red card is Montpellier's fifth in seven games. Naughty boys.

Ajaccio are on the up following that equaliser and Montpellier sending off, they are all over their opponents at the moment, with the home fans in fine voice.

Cavalli curls a dangerous free kick from the right touchline which hangs in the air towards the far post. There are a number of bodies competing for it, but Jourdren is able to punch the ball clear.

Despite two goals and two red cards, we will have just one extra minute at the end of this first half.

HALF TIME: Ajaccio 1-1 Montpellier HSC

Wow, what a frantic opening half that was, where two goals and two red cards have failed to prise apart the two teams.

Goncalves was sent off for giving away a penalty early on, which Cabella converted to give the hosts the lead, but Zubar brought Ajaccio level moments before Jebbour was given his marching orders.

Match statistics:

Ajaccio:
Shots 6
On target 1
Possession 52%
Corners 3
Fouls 8

Montpellier HSC:
Shots 7
On target 4
Possession 48%
Corners 4
Fouls 9


The teams are back out at Stade Francois Coty.

KICKOFF! We're back underway with Ajaccio playing to the right and Montpellier the left.

AJACCIO CHANGE Ravanelli opts for one alteration at the break as Salim Arrache is replaced by Demba Camara.

CHANCE! First opportunity of the half falls to the host as the ball in worked in from the left to Mostefa. He takes a touch before shooting from a central position back across the face of goal from 25 yards out, but it rolls wide of the post.

Ajaccio have started this second on top, but are yet to test Jourdren.

Ravanelli looks as if he is about to make a change.

YELLOW CARD Stefan Popescu is given a yellow for catching Cabella with a flailing arm on the touchline when jostling for the ball.

AJACCIO CHANGE And that's his last involvement in the match as Popescu is replaced by Chahir Belghazouani.

SAVE! Montpellier have a chance through a free kick which Congre gets his head to. However, Ochoa is there to make a great save.

Cavalli, who has been at the heart of most of Ajaccio's good play today, brings the ball forward with a run down the middle. He tries to slide in Mostefa, but the striker had just strayed offside.

YELLOW CARD Camara is the latest Montpellier man to go into the book.

Ajaccio have been much improved since Belghazouani came on. They look like the only team who will score at the moment. Cue Montpellier goal...

CHANCE! Montpellier have a free kick in a good position just outside the box on the left. Cabella is over it, and he could have a go at goal from here, but instead he curls a dipping cross right in front of Ochoa, which was just begging for a teammate to get a touch and score.

YELLOW CARD Lasne enters the book for the host.

MONTPELLIER CHANGE Remy Cabella has been withdrawn, with Anthony Mounier entering the fray.

SAVES! Ochoa has made two fine stops in as many minutes to keep Ajaccio level. Where they would be without him so far this season I don't know.

MONTPELLIER CHANGE Victor Hugo Montano comes on in place of Camara in attack.

AJACCIO CHANGE John Cavalli comes off to a great reception from the home fans, with Pierazzi coming on in his place.

CLOSE! Nearly a horrible error from Montpellier. Ajaccio hit a shot from the edge of the box which takes a touch off Camara on its way through to goal. The deflection results in the ball slipping through the legs of Jourdren, but he is able to rush back and stop the ball on the line.

MONTPELLIER CHANGE Martin is on in place of Bakar.

Looks as if this game is heading for a draw at the moment, neither side look willing to give it all at goal.

DOUBLE SAVE! And as I say that, Jourdren keeps Montpellier in the game with a wonderful double stop.

We will have three minutes of added time.

FULL TIME: Ajaccio 1-1 Montpellier HSC

So the second half is rather timid compared to the first, but neither side can find a way through and have to settle for a point.

Goncalves was sent off for giving away a penalty early on, which Cabella converted to give the hosts the lead, but Zubar brought Ajaccio level moments before Jebbour was given his marching orders.

Let's bring you the full-time stats.

Match statistics:

Ajaccio:
Shots 10
On target 2
Possession 54%
Corners 6
Fouls 16

Montpellier HSC:
Shots 12
On target 7
Possession 46%
Corners 6
Fouls 15


That's it from me for now, but make sure you join me again on Sports Mole at 7.30pm for coverage of AS Monaco's trip to Reims.

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