Ajaccio were plunged into relegation danger as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Evian and saw Carl Medjani red-carded late on.
The visitors took the lead through Benjamin Andre, but Cedric Barbosa immediately equalised and Daniel Wass' second-half free-kick earned the three points for Evian, who are set for a top-half finish in their first season following promotion to Ligue 1.
Ajaccio, by contrast, are just three points outside the relegation zone having played a game more than all three teams in the bottom three, and will have to contend with the suspension of Medjani after his frustrated two-footed lunge at Wass.
Evian threatened in the early stages and visiting keeper Guillermo Ochoa had to save Ali M'Madi's long-range strike and Barbosa's ferocious drive, the latter effort rebounding clear off the Mexican's shoulder.
But Andre put Ajaccio ahead when he latched on to Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi's knockdown and lobbed the ball superbly over keeper Stephan Andersen.
The lead lasted only two minutes, though, as Felipe Saad's poor clearance allowed Barbosa to slot the ball home from close range.
Wass' effort nearly squirmed away from Ochoa, but the entertaining opening 20 minutes gave way to a complete lull up until half-time.
It did not take long after the resumption for Evian to go in front, though, as Wass unleashed a ferocious 53rd-minute free-kick which found the top corner via the inside of the post.
M'Madi threatened twice in quick succession, Ochoa deflecting his first effort away for a corner and then diving to save another shot bound for the bottom corner of the net.
The Comoros international continued to seek his third goal of the season and raced on to Thomas Kahlenberg's through-ball, but his shot was saved by Ochoa.
Medjani's error let in Yannick Sagbo, but again Ochoa stood firm. Medjani's frustration got the better of him a minute from time, though, and his rush of blood could have further ramifications in his side's relegation run-in.
