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Nantes hit back to deny Rui Almeida victory in bow as Bastia boss

Nantes recovered from two goals down to deny Rui Almeida victory in his first match as Bastia boss.

The former Sporting Lisbon assistant manager succeeded Francois Ciccolini this week and his first match saw him tasked with securing a first win in nine Ligue 1 attempts for the bottom-three club.

But Diego Carlos spoiled his night, his last-gasp goal forcing a 2-2 draw as Nantes took a point.

Almeida's debut in the Corsicans' dugout started badly, too, as he lost Alexander Djiku to a red card after just 10 minutes, the right-back lunging in high-footed on Adrien Thomasson.

Bastia survived the setback, however, and after pushing their opponents hard for the rest of the first half, Gael Danic fired them into the lead with a finish at the far post on 68 minutes.

Prince Oniangue made it 2-0 nine minutes later, his free kick finding the same patch of net.

Nantes were not dead and replied inside two minutes as Emiliano Sala slammed home under the bar.

With five minutes left Les Canaris got their first chance to level, but Lucas Lima shot wide from the penalty spot.

It fell to Diego Carlos to save the day with a classy equaliser two minutes into stoppage time.