Sochaux secured a vital victory in their fight against relegation as they overcame Evian TG 3-2 on Saturday.
It was Sochaux who created the first opening of the match and it fell to Mathieu Peybernes after three minutes but his effort was pushed away by a smart save from Stephan Andersen.
Evian began to gain control of the match as the half progressed, however, and Cedric Barbosa so nearly found the top corner after 14 minutes, but his effort was just wide of the post.
Evian took the lead after 25 minutes when Yaya Banana felled Saber Khelifa in the box and Cedric Mongongu stepped up to send them ahead.
Their lead did not last long, however, as Brice Djadjedje headed into his own net from a corner on the 30-minute mark.
Sidney Govou went close for Evian moments later, but his effort drifted just wide and it got worse for the home side on the stroke of the interval when Vincent Nogueira fired the away side into a 2-1 lead.
The home side twice came close to drawing the match level early in the second period, but Thomas Kahlenberg and Khelifa both missed when it looked easier to score.
Sochaux scored their third of the afternoon after 66 minutes when Edouard Butin found the bottom corner with a cool finish.
The scoring was not finished, however, as Evian cut the score to 3-2 after 71 minutes when Cedric Cambon headed the home side back into the match.
Evian desperately searched for the equaliser in the latter stages, but to no avail, as Sochaux held on for a vital three points in their fight for safety this season.
Matt Law
