French Ligue 1: Monaco leave it late in Bastia

Two goals in the final 12 minutes lifted Monaco to a 3-1 victory at Bastia which moved last season's Ligue 1 runners-up to sixth in the standings.

The visitors claimed their second successive league win when Geoffrey Kondogbia's strike was followed up by Yannick Ferreira Carrasco in the 84th minute.

Valere Germain had given Leonardo Jardim's men a fifth-minute lead but Christopher Maboulou levelled matters midway through the first half and it appeared the spoils would be shared until Monaco came on strong in the closing stages.

They also started on the front foot and took the lead with the first real chance of the match when Belgium Under-21 international Ferreira Carrasco put through Germain, who dribbled round Bastia goalkeeper Alphonse Areola before slotting into an empty net.

Bastia made a strong response as Ryad Boudebouz's free-kick was well stopped by Danijel Subasic but the Monaco custodian was helpless as Maboulou's diving header from Francois Kamano's right-wing cross nestled into the net.

Sebastien Squillaci headed straight at Subasic while Monaco finished the half strongly as Areola denied headers from Ricardo Carvalho and Lacina Traore.

Areola was again called into action on the resumption, making a superb reflex save from Kondogbia's thumping volley, while Traore's drive was well saved by the Bastia keeper.

Just as it seemed the teams would each take a share of the spoils, Carrasco's excellent curling free-kick led to Kondogbia looping a header over Areola.

And the provider then turned goalscorer to make sure there would be no way back for the Corsican side when he knocked in the rebound after Anthony Martial's strike following a fluid counter-attack was palmed out by Areola.