A late second-half goal from Kamil Grosicki spared Rennes' blushes as they battled back to earn a point from a 2-2 draw away at 10-man Reims in Ligue 1 this evening.
The hosts almost found an opener after just nine minutes had been played, when Diego saw his strong effort kept out by a sprawling Benoit Costil in the Rennes goal.
Rennes were unable to muster much going forward in the first period, as they had to rely on shots from distance through Jeremie Boga and Pedro Henrique.
The visitors stuck at their task, however, and they were rewarded with a goal just before half time through Boga, who received a pass from Kamil Grosicki before finishing down low into the bottom corner.
The lead was not to last too long, though, given that Reims struck back after half time through Aissa Mandi, who made use of Diego's set-piece to draw his side level.
It seemed like the home side would soon be in the ascendancy, but they were reduced to 10 men when Jaba Kankava was sent off for a second yellow card.
The dismissal did not seem to impact Reims and they instead found a lead through frontman Nicolas De Preville, as he finished smartly from Prince Oniangue's inventive pass to make it 2-1.
Reims' lack of an 11th man did eventually come back to haunt them, though, when Rennes frontman Grosicki tucked home from Ousmane Dembele's ball to earn the visitors a late point.
Christopher Dodd
