2023-09-03 18:15:27
Three days after their Conference League play-off, LOSC won by the narrowest of margins against Montpellier while Metz and Reims could not decide after a lively match (2-2). The promoted Le Havre won his first game of the season, Clermont scored his first point.
Lille provides the essentials
Barely returned from their perilous trip to Rijeka (Croatia), where Paulo Fonseca and his men painfully validated their qualification for the group stages of the Conference League (2-1, 1-1 ap.) last Thursday, Lille were under pressure at the time of receiving an MHSC author of a solid start to the season (4 points out of 9 possible). Indeed, swept away last weekend in Lorient (4-1), the Mastiffs needed to revive in the league. It’s done after a narrow success over the Héraultais (1-0). Efficient from the start, the locals opened the scoring with a free kick cleverly hit by Yusuf Yazici with a powerful low shot (2nd) before mastering the first act.
Despite several hot situations at the start of the second period, like this attempt by Angel Gomes repelled by Lecomte (55th) or the overly crushed strike from Tiago Santos (57th), LOSC did not manage to kill the match and could have paid for it. The strong man from the start of the Montpellier season, Moussa Al-Tamari, twice found the gloves of a Lucas Chevalier in great shape (72nd, 73rd). Two first situations heralding a complicated period for Lille. If the world champion Samuel Umtiti and the latest recruit Nabil Bentaleb made their debuts at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, LOSC was still scared at the end of the match. But the goal scored in the 89th minute by Arnaud Nordin was finally disallowed for a slight offside position by Kelvin Yeboah. With 7 points on the clock, Benjamin André and his team are within three points of the Monegasque leader.
Spectacular draw between Metz and Reims
It was the afternoon of the skylights at Saint-Symphorien. After an open and lively draw, Messins and Rémois left good friends, scoring several masterpieces. The first was to be credited to Cheikh Sabaly. With a cannon shot, the Messin striker opened the scoring for the hosts after seven minutes, clearing the right corner of Yehvann Diouf’s cage. But the Rémois, who remained on two successes against Clermont then Montpellier, were quick to react. Following a ball lost by N’Doram from 20 meters, Oumar Diakité, a young 19-year-old attacking midfielder, responded to Sabaly by in turn catapulting a missile into the opposing goal. Metz could have regained the advantage shortly before the break thanks to Simon Elisor, but the header from the former Laval player did not deceive Diouf’s vigilance.
It was shortly after the equalizer signed Teddy Teuma (52nd), synonymous with the third goal this season for the former resident of Union Saint-Gilloise, that the third and last skylight of the match was found, this time by the Gambian Ablie Jallow, author of a beautiful curled shot from 18 meters (63rd). Will Still’s men are provisionally 3rd (7 points); Metz is 12th, two points behind.
First success for Le Havre
14 years later, Le Havre are again winners in Ligue 1. Back in the top flight after their title of French Ligue 2 champion last year, Luka Elsner’s men won their first success of the season, in triumphant (3-0) over a timid Lorient. Solid defensively in the first period, the promoted managed to sting in transition from the start of the second act, thanks to his rookie Daler Kouzyaïev. A defector from the Zenith, the Russian international was already the author of Le Havre’s only goal of the season at the Stade Océane, on the occasion of his team’s defeat against Brest (1-2, 2nd day). This time, the 30-year-old attacking midfielder did not hesitate to conclude a transition after a good exchange with Loïc Nego (53rd).
Nabil Alioui, already credited with a double last week in Rennes (2-2), took charge of making the break for the Normans, converting a magnificent job from Antoine Joujou (70th) before Nolan Mbemba completed the beautiful Le Havre afternoon in added time. The HAC will therefore pass the truce far from the red zone, the oldest club temporarily occupying 8th place.
Clermont marque son premier point
After three defeats in as many games, Clermont Foot hoped to launch its season at the Stadium de Toulouse during the 1 p.m. match. It may be done after a draw (2-2) hung in the last moments. Opposed to a dangerous TFC due to its speed in transition, the Auvergnats found themselves trailing by two goals after a quarter of an hour. Zakaria Aboukhlal, on the lookout to take back a free kick struck by Suazo, first opened the scoring (8th) before Frank Magri scored his first goal in Ligue 1 by rolling a nice shot into the top corner of Diaw (14th ).
Conquering, Pascal Gastien’s men did not give up and were rewarded with a penalty converted by Grejohn Kyei (34th) before dominating the end of the match. The Clermont striker missed the double, finding the crossbar with a blocked shot (54th) before Alidu Seidu came close to scoring an exceptional goal on a cross shot, pushed back by the post of Guillaume Restes, the Toulouse porter. It was finally captain Florent Ogier who equalized after added time, quicker than the Occitan defenders to place the ball in the back of the net after a mess (90th + 6).
A deserved draw which allows Clermont to leave last place, occupied this Sunday afternoon by Lens, beaten the day before in Monaco. For its part, Toulouse is still cursed at home. As a reminder: the Violets remain on eight matches and seven months without success in their Stadium.
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