Strasbourg were desperate to end the unwanted record of being the only Ligue 1 side yet to win at home this season, and Julien Stephan’s side came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s cross into the area picked out the unmarked Habib Diallo, but his header drifted wide.
The home supporters will have been encouraged by this, but, less than 15 minutes later, the familiar feeling returned when Wilson Odobert’s shot deflected off defender Gerzino Nyamsi and rolled into the path of Renaud Ripart, who poked in from close range to give Troyes the lead.
Troyes had not won any of their last six matches at Stade de la Meinau, but they took another step in the right direction when calamitous defending from Strasbourg saw them twice fail to clear their lines, giving Rony Lopes the chance to strike powerfully into the corner and double the hosts’ advantage.
Matz Sels did well to deny Lopes a second and Troyes a third shortly after, and then with halftime approaching, the hosts got themselves back into the contest as Diallo headed in from close range to halve the deficit and set up an intriguing second half.
The home side had the momentum in the early stages of the second half, and they drew themselves level in stunning fashion when Ismael Doukoure’s speculative effort from 25 yards out found the top corner to send Strasbourg’s fans into raptures.
The hosts looked the likelier to find a winner, but the fifth and decisive goal fell to Troyes when Xavier Chavalerin’s sweetly-struck first-time volley from a corner flew into the net to give the visitors a priceless three points.
Strasbourg remain rooted inside the relegation zone and still very much in a battle to preserve their top-flight status for next season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Xavier Chavalerin (Troyes)
