SC Bastia overcame an early threat as they progressed to the semi-final of the Coupe de la Ligue.
It was always going to be a tense affair when the two teams went toe to toe in Corsica, as the previous encounter was jam packed full of controversy from start to finish. One of the main role players in the last fixture, Paul-Georges Ntep didn't feature, and star man in that game, Ryad Boudebouz, picked up an injury before kick off. A debut was given to Rennes left-back, Emir Lenjani.
The new man was involved from the off as the visitors started the brighter of the two sides. Steven Moreira played Lenjani through, as he got in behind the right-back, Alexander Djiku, to put an enticing cross that glided past both posts unmet, before going out of play.
There were signs early on that the feisty nature of the two sides were going to be expressed as Christophe Vincent was told off by the referee for his late foul on Benjamin Andre.
Rennes went in front soon after Romain Danze got his head on a Prcic freekick- the captain played the ball across goal which was poorly cleared, leaving Sylvain Armand the easy job of striking from close range. The away side looked to enhance their lead when Ola Toivonen made good work of directing a side-footed shot to the far post, unlucky that the ball strolled by the target.
Toivonen and the Bastia goalkeeper, Jean-Louis Laca, had their own personal duel with the stopper venting his frustration at the Swede's attempt to interfere with him.
There was little in the way of a Bastia look in at goal- Bastia captain, Yannick Cahuzac, tried his best to get something started, however his cutback to Romaric was poorly controlled and Rennes retained possession. Wide-man, Julian Palmieri, brushed of Danze to cut inside, hitting a shot that nestled the side netting causing Benoit Costil no trouble.
Things got nasty again before the whistle as Toivonen and Laca were at loggerheads again, and Cahuzac received a booking for fouling Prcic. The proceedings were to close for the first half in a bizarre fashion- Palmieri drilled a teasing ball to Christopher Maboulou who skied the ball right in front of goal. The assister was left befuddled as he watched his team mate waste a fantastic opportunity for a leveller.
Bastia put the missed sitter at the back of their minds when they emerged for the second half, scoring early to bring the game back to a neutral standpoint. A scramble from a cross fell to the feet of centre-back, Sebastien Squillaci, who notched home from six yards. At the other end, it was Rennes' centre-back, Mexer, who would give his oppenents a scare as his header missed the target by inches.
Things came to a head when defensive-midfielder, Anders Konradsen, was given his marching order by the referee for a second bookable offence. Once again, Rennes had to play Bastia a man less off. The hosts took great advantage of the red card by taking the lead: a corner aimed at Squillaci evaded both the centre-back and Costil to hit a bewildered Danze's head into an open net to score an own goal.
If already Rennes had it all to do, the job was to be made an even greater for Philippe Montanier's side with Emir Lenjani being sent off for a venomous foul on Gillet. The debutant created an even bigger headache for his new team mates. Bastia had great fun at Rennes' expense, wasting chances at will- Djibril Cisse hit a powerful long ranger which didn't trouble Costil and Kone thought he was through to score had the offiside flag not have been raised.
The wasted chances came to a head when Cisse was in acres of space in front of Costil, the veteran steadied himself and struck the goal past Costil. Bastia's passage to the next stage was confirmed when the referee blew a minute into three minutes of added time.
Bastia travel to Toulouse in the league for their next match, meanwhile Rennes will try and shake of the loss by hosting Saint Etienne.