AC Ajaccio snatched its accession to Ligue 1 by beating in its arch-filled François-Coty stadium the other promoted and Ligue 2 champion Toulouse 1 to 0, Saturday during the 38th and last day. A penalty from Riad Nouri (28th) was enough for Olivier Pantaloni’s team to finish in second place and find an elite left in 2014. Auxerre (3rd), Paris FC (4th) and Sochaux (5th) will play the accession dams in L1, just like Quevilly-Rouen at the bottom of the classification, which will try to avoid relegation to National.
Corsican supporters trembled before the liberation
Visibly very contracted by the challenge, the Ajacciens, who remained on a series of nine matches without defeat, were only very rarely able to develop their game, against Toulouse playing on the contrary in complete relaxation under the baton of their master at play Branco van den Boomen. Each corner, free kick or center of the latter made the Corsican supporters tremble. The deliverance came from a foul by Logan Costa on Gaëtan Courtet, the Corsican striker and captain, which resulted in a penalty and a yellow card for the Toulouse central defender. Penalty converted with full cold blood by Riad Nouri (28th).
Toulouse, who played without his English striker Rhys Healey, top scorer in this Ligue 2 (20 goals) touched groin, was assured of his accession for three days. Another absentee on the Toulouse side, coach Philippe Montanier, seized up and replaced on the bench by his assistant Michaël Debève. Ajaccio was relegated to Ligue 2 in 2014 after three seasons in the top flight.
Quevilly-Rouen will have to play for its maintenance in the play-offs
For its part, AJ Auxerre won at home against Amiens (2-1) but will have to go through the play-offs to hope to accompany Toulouse and Ajaccio on the upper floor. The first act of these play-offs will pit Paris FC (4th) against Sochaux (5th) in a single match at the Charléty stadium. Auxerre awaits the winner. And the club that will win this final match will face in the round trip of the 18th round of Ligue 1. On Saturday, the PFC beat Grenoble 2-0 and Sochaux was hooked on their ground by Dijon (2-2).
At the bottom of the table, Quevilly-Rouen, despite his victory against Dunkirk (3-1) finished 18th and barrage, ahead of Dunkirk (19th) and Nancy (20th), already condemned. Rodez (17th) ensured his maintenance in front of his home crowd by dominating Caen 2-0. Quevilly-Rouen will play a play-off per round trip against Villefranche-Beaujolais, third and play-off of the National.