Rennes gifted a victory by Ajaccio’s own goal

Rennes' Abdoulaye Doucoure. (Claude Paris/AP Photo)

RENNES, France — An own goal in added time from Gazelec Ajaccio defender Roderic Filippi gave Rennes a 1-0 win in the French league in Rolland Courbis’ first match as coach of the Brittany side.

Filippi beat goalkeeper Clement Maury after substitute Kamil Grosicki controlled a long ball and was about to take a second touch when the defender prevented him from shooting but hit the ball against the post which then crossed the line.

Courbis, who left Montpellier during the Christmas break, was appointed on Wednesday after Rennes was knocked out of the French Cup.

The win provisionally lifts Rennes to third place, 23 points behind runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain, which hosts fourth-place Angers on Saturday. Second-place Monaco plays Toulouse on Sunday.

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