They had long teeth, and they ended up biting. Traveling to Nîmes this Saturday, the Sochaliens had a clear objective: to win a fourth victory in a row. Manhandled for a good twenty minutes, the FCSM ended up making their mastery speak to win. “Victories call for victories” goes the saying, even if nothing changes for the moment in the classification for the Yellow and Blue.
Missed start
It was hot in Nîmes this Saturday evening. Is it the Gard torpor, in a practically empty Costières stadium, only filled with the songs of the brave Sochaliens who made the trip, which delayed the FCSM? The start of the match was more than complicated for Sochauxand Nîmes quickly opened the scoring, thanks to Julien Ponceau (4′).
Thioune goalscorer!
Deprived of Gaëtan Weissbeck and Ismaïl Aaneba, the Yellow and Blue have gradually raised their heads, with (again) Mauricio as conductor. The midfielder must still wonder how he was able to put his volley on the bar, almost from close range (36 ‘). But a few moments later, the ex-Lensois placed a marvelous free kick…again on the bar. The time to tell himself that he must be cursed, Ousseynou Thioune had followed, and was able to equalize before the break (39 ‘). The very first goal with Sochaux from the 28-year-old Senegalese midfielder, arrived almost three years ago.
Winning Coaching
In the second half, Nîmes lowered their foot a little more, while the FCSM gained momentum. Feeling the good shot, Omar Daf brought in his weapons.
On his very first ball, Alan Virginius was very close to offering a decisive pass to Maurico (62 ‘). Seven short minutes later, the young Sochalien, launched by Rassoul Ndiaye, allowed his teammates to come back in front (70’).
In the process, it is another entrant, Yann Kitalawho sealed the Sochaux victory, just three minutes after coming on, on a free pass from Mauricio (80′).
At the very end of the match, Nîmes could have reduced the gap on penalty. But it was written, nothing could happen to the FCSM this Saturday evening, and Maxence Prévot released Moussa Koné’s shot (94′).
A victory for nothing?
Sochaux therefore sign their four in a row, after successes against Rodez, Quevilly and Nancy. But it is to believe that the efforts of the FCSM have no effect.
None of the contenders for the climb are experiencing a real slowdown, and this Saturday, everyone won, outside moreover. Auxerre and Ajaccio crushed Pau and Dijon (1-4; 0-3), Paris FC did the job for them against Rodez (0-1). The gaps remain the same, five days from the end: Sochaux is four points behind second Ajaccio, one point behind third Auxerre, and tied with fourth, PFC.
“This is not a victory for butter!“All the same, the Sochaux side Valentin Henry was enthusiastic after the meeting.
“Tonight, we could have been knocked out, the week before too, and we would then have had to settle for fourth or fifth place… We are still focused on this second place. It will be tight until the end. We are hungry, we continue to move forward, and we have great matches ahead of us.“
The calendar indeed promises a intense sequence at FCSM. From Tuesday, the Doubistes will receive the leader Toulouse, before moving to Pau (12th) on Friday.