Evian Thonon Gaillard 2 - 3 Stade Reims: Reims set for survival

Posted Sunday, May 10, 2015 by PA

Reims won 3-2 at Evian on Saturday night to clear up the bottom of the Ligue 1 table.

Had Evian got home, they would have leapfrogged Reims out of the only unconfirmed place in the drop zone but, an away win means there are four points separating Evian and the rest with two games to go.

Their fate is not yet sealed, but Reims can expect the gratitude of the likes of Toulouse, Nice, Lorient and Caen for putting real daylight in the table.

Evian had led, Gilles Sunu and Mathieu Duhamel cancelling out David N'Gog's opener, but N'Gog and then substitute Benjamin Moukandjo turned it around.

Both sides knew what a win could do so went after it from the off, Diego hitting wide with a volley for Reims.

Evian hit back and Duhamel was denied by Kossi Agassa in the visiting goal.

Reims then hit the post, Antoine Conte driving against the woodwork, but N'Gog got them in front five minutes before the break when he converted Diego's assist.

But Evian went in level at the break, Sunu curling in a 25-yard free-kick that Agassa was late on.

Buoyed by the goal, Evian came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half and were ahead four minutes into it. Olivier Sorlin's ball over the top found Duhamel and unmarked he took it in and put it away.

Reims were not done, though.

N'Gog fired a warning with a low volley which skipped wide, and 65 minutes in he levelled, scoring from close range after an Aissa Mandi flick-on.

Both sides knew how precious a winner would be and it was Reims who went and got it. With four minutes left N'Gog crossed for Moukandjo and he curled in one of the most priceless goals of his career.