Ligue 1 (matchday 27): battle rages between Gagnoa and SOA

Just three matchdays remain in the Ligue 1 regular season. It's fair to say the head-to-head battle among the heavyweights at the top of the table goes on. At the bottom, the fight for survival is in full swing.

Sporting keep their nerve
In their clash with Stella Club d'Adjame, Sporting Club de Gagnoa never wobbled. A Jacob Depode header was enough to give the men from the Goh the win (1-0). Winners in the first leg (2-0), Sporting took the return fixture too and picked up a 14th win of the season in Ligue 1. Aby Yao's side strengthen their grip on second place and move a little closer to securing a play-off spot. For Stella, the up-and-down run of results continues.

AFAD hold firm
Pressed in the race for the Superdivision by FC San Pedro and Racing club, AFAD faced a tricky trip to Yamoussoukro to take on Bouaké FC. The Afadistes, who had no room for error, cleared the hurdle with ease, winning 3-1. The result lets the Lions du Plateau hang on to 4th place.

Ouattara and Diby hit 11
Scorer of a brace against Assi d'Abengourou (3-1), Ouattara Brahima moved clear at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts. With 11 goals in 11 matches played, the captain of the Lions de Yopougon has put his side on the right track. Diby Gauthier Beranger matched the feat with FC San Pedro. The Pétruciens snatched a draw (2-2) against SOA and can thank their striker, who also takes his tally for the season to 11 goals.

Bassam and COK share the spoils
Billed as a clash between two struggling sides, the meeting between COK and Bassam produced no winner (1-1). The Insulaires had taken the lead by opening the scoring, only to concede after the break. That was all the Jaune et Rouge needed to hit back and level. A point apiece lets both sides move a little further from the relegation zone.

Stade wake up, LYS still not safe
Alexandre Lafitte and Stade d'Abidjan got their revenge on LYS Sassandra, beating them 2 to 1. The Yéyés were trailing at the break after a goal from Lehman Samaké. More incisive, the Requins unsettled Stade, who struggled to create chances. It took until the second half for the Bleu et Rouge to wake up. Kouyaté Ben and his team-mates turned the match around and won (2-1). It is the Stadistes' 10th win of the season. For LYS, this 5th defeat in a row is bad news, especially as they have still not secured their Ligue 1 survival.

Matchday 27 results

USC Bassam 1-1 CO Korhogo
SOL FC 1-1 ES Bafing
Stella Club 0-1 Sporting Gagnoa
Bouaké FC 1-3 AFAD
Racing Club 3-1 ASI
Stade d'Abidjan 2-1 LYS Sassandra
FC San Pedro 2-2 SOA

Fixtures
AS Denguélé - ASEC (postponed)

The table
1st: Asec (53 points)
2nd: Sporting Gagnoa (49 pts)
3rd: SOA (47 pts)
4th: AFAD (45 pts)
5th: FC San Pedro (42 pts)
6th: Racing Club (40 pts)
7th: Stade d'Abidjan (37 pts)
8th: SOL FC (35 pts)
9th: Stella Club (34 pts)
10th: LYS Sassandra (33 pts)
11th: AS Denguélé (32 pts)
12th: Bouaké FC (27 pts)
13th: CO Korhogo (26 pts)
14th: USC Bassam (25 pts)
15th: ES Bafing (24 pts)
16th: ASI Abengourou (24 pts)

Kader G