French Ligue 1

AC Ajaccio 1-0 Lorient

Ajaccio moved clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone as Ronald Zubar's second-half goal earned them victory over Lorient tonight.

The former Wolves defender lashed home a powerful shot in the 75th minute to settle a match which up till then had been dominated by the goalkeepers.

Victory moved the hosts five points above the bottom three, while defeat saw Lorient's hopes of breaking into the European places recede.

The visitors started the better, Yann Jouffre bringing a fingertip save out of Guillermo Ochoa with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Jouffre then sent in a cross which picked out Ecuele Manga at the far post and the Gabon international headed inches over the top.

At the other end Paul Lasne had a first-time shot blocked by keeper Fabien Audard, who minutes later produced a stunning reflex save to keep out a volley from the same player.

Both sides continued to give as good as they got in the second half, only to find the keepers in fine form.

Ochoa blocked from Julien Quercia at one end and Audard acrobatically kept out a Frederic Sammaritano lob at the other.

Ochoa was called into action again to keep out Jouffre's effort from the edge of the area.

But Audard was finally beaten with 15 minutes remaining as Zubar retrieved the ball on the halfway line, strode toward goal and fired fiercely into the net from 20 yards to settle the match.