Metz 3 : 1 Bastia - Metz too good for Bastia

Metz's dominant display at home to Bastia was rewarded with a 3-1 Ligue 1 win.

Goals from Sergey Krivets, Guido Milan and Juan Falcon proved too much at the Stade Saint-Symphorien for the visitors - although Floyd Ayite scored a memorable goal on the counter-attack to make it 1-1 at the break.

Ayite, in fact, was involved in the first clear-cut chance of the match when he collected a ball from Guillaume Gillet inside the penalty area and passed to the unmarked Gadji Tallot in the 12th minute.

Tallot's fine right-footed shot deserved better but instead curled on to the bar and clear.

Two minutes later, Metz were in front.

Yeni N'Gbakoto played Krivets through in the penalty area, and his right-footer beat goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and found the top corner.

N'Gbakoto had a chance of his own six minutes later, created by Florent Malouda, but his shot was blocked by Areola.

Bastia levelled up in the 42nd minute, Yannick Cahuzac leading the counter and putting Ayite in on the left for an unstoppable left-footed volley on the run.

Midway through the second half, Metz were in front again.

Gillet's poor clearance from Kevin Lejeune's corner fell to Milan, who volleyed in spectacularly from close range.

And it was 3-1 in the 74th minute, thanks to Falcon.

Milan and Krivets were both involved in the build-up, but it was Falcon who popped up at the far post to complete the scoring.

Areola kept out a fierce shot form Krivets with quarter of an hour to go, and Bouna Sarr might have done better in the 85th minute when his shot from inside the area hit the side-netting.

By then, though, Metz had things wrapped up.