Auxerre inflicted Ajaccio's first defeat of the current campaign 2-0 thanks to late goals from Kanga Akalé and Peguy Luyindula.

Having lost their last three games, Jacques Santini's men understandably took a while to get into their stride against a determined and well-organised Corsican outfit.

Auxerre's Belgian striker Luigi Pieroni almost gave his side the lead midway through the opening period but he saw his effort headed off the line by Fabien Laurenti.

In the end it was a set-piece that broke the deadlock when Thomas Kahlenberg's free-kick was glanced home by Akalé just 10 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Luyindula, who missed Auxerre's UEFA Cup clash against Levski Sofia in midweek then capped off a promising display with a second goal just five minutes from full-time.

The win sees Auxerre join Ajaccio on nine points in the top-half of the table for the first time this season.

Auxerre: Cool - Radet, Mignot, Grichting, Jaurès - Lachuer (cap) (Akalé 67), Violeau, Be. Cheyrou, Kahlenberg - Luyindula, Pieroni (Poyet 72)

Ajaccio: Porato - Jabi, Danjou, Laurenti, Collin - Rocchi (Chafni 46), Robin, Rodrigo (cap), Andre Luiz (Antonio Carlos 69) - Edson, K. Diawara (Saïfi 46)

Ref: C. Colombo