Bastia 1 - 2 Evian Thonon Gaillard: Evian comeback earns victory

Evian fought back from a goal down to snatch a 2-1 victory over fellow Ligue 1 strugglers Bastia on Wednesday night.

Hosts Bastia took the lead when Evian right-back Kassim Abdallah put through his own net 10 minutes before half-time, but in-form striker Daniel Wass drew Evian level shortly after the hour mark with a sweetly struck free-kick.

Bastia looked destined to earn a point in Ghislain Printant's second game in full-time charge, but Clarck N'Sikulu snatched victory for Evian eight minutes from time when he slotted home to complete a swift counter-attack move.

Victory at the Stade Armand Cesari earned Evian their third Ligue 1 victory in a row after a run of four successive league defeats, while Bastia slump to bottom of the standings after losing their eighth match of the campaign.

Bastia were looking for their first victory in three league matches and enjoyed the best chance of a subdued opening quarter, but Christopher Maboulou's 14th-minute back-post header sailed wide of target.

Evian responded two minutes later through Adrien Thomasson but Bastia goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was alert to gather the forward's first-time effort.

The visitors were left to rue that miss 10 minutes before the interval when Abdallah diverted Francois Kamano's right-wing cross beyond goalkeeper Jesper Hansen and into the net to give Bastia the lead.

Bastia had further chances to double their advantage before the interval but Yannick Cahuzac and Floyd Ayite could not convert.

Evian rode a sustained spell of Bastia pressure after the break but were level against the run of play in the 64th minute, when Wass despatched a fizzing free-kick beyond Areola to notch his seventh goal of the season.

Francois Modesto wasted a fine chance to restore Bastia's lead six minutes later when he headed Ryad Boudebouz's corner over the bar from five yards out, and the hosts were made to pay when N'Sikulu struck eight minutes from time to earn all three points for Evian.

Evian broke up yet another Bastia attack and broke into their half with purpose. Abdallah floated in a cross from the right wing which N'Sikulu despatched first time past a flailing Areola to silence the home crowd.