It was hard but it’s good in the end! FC Sochaux Montbéliard certainly won a crucial match this Saturday evening at Bonal against Guingamp on the occasion of the 27th day of Ligue 2 (1-0). The 7,000 spectators nevertheless had to wait until the 68th minute to see Alan Virginius score the goal of deliverance for the Yellow and Blue. The FCSM has suffered and is even doing very well as the Bretons deserved at least to equalize. But this time, Omar Daf’s team held on until the end. Especially since with the successes of Auxerre, Ajaccio and Le Havre, it was important, even capital to win also for Sochaux, still 5th, but still clinging to his dream of a climb.
Kalulu too altruistic, Mauricio untenable…
We weren’t bored this Saturday evening at Bonal, surely attending one of the most open matches of the season, very spectacular even with two very playful teams. And goalscoring opportunities at will on each side. For Sochaux, Aldo Kalulu, twice, lacked spontaneity in front of goal, Aaneba saw his shot deflected above but Guingamp, very strong technically with M’Changama, or even Merghem also made misery for the yellow and blue defense. At the break, the parity score seems logical even if the FCSM should have been more effective in attack.
Ambri as a blaster, Virginius as a finisher
With a Tony Mauricio as a true master to play, Sochaux still found the fault in the 68th minute. On yet another counter, Steve Ambri, who came into play, tumbled down and found the left post at the end of his mad dash. Fortunately, Alan Virginius had followed, and showed composure by adjusting a strike from the right the goalkeeper and two Breton defenders. “I went to give him a kiss to the “little one” (Alan Virginius) to congratulate him on his goal” admits Steve Ambri, happy especially that his team did not crack this time“We were strong, we were united, and we did not repeat the mistakes of the last matches” even if the Guingampais heated up, until the end of 6 minutes of additional time, the gloves of Mehdi Jeannin, impeccable in his cages, and also missed at least two almost unmissable chances (Pierrot and Muyumba). But the FCSM striker is right. Sochaux had to put their heads back in place after their two failures against Ajaccio and Paris. In pain of course, but contract fulfilled.
We knew how to do the job, I had asked the players to regain efficiency in both surfaces, we didn’t do it too much in the 1st period, we could have paid for it in the second half. I congratulate the boys because we were able to cope, we called for a lot of solidarity, solidity against a very tough team to play. This victory feels good in people’s minds, because there was a lot of frustration after our two outings. It wasn’t our best game, me as a coach, I don’t like it when it’s open like that, but the most important thing is the three points and continuing to have a nice season – Omar DAF
Status quo at the top (or almost)
Especially since this success against Guingamp is more than capital. Vital even since Ajaccio won at Niort (0-1), Le Havre did the same at Quevilly (0-2) and Auxerre won at Rodez (1-3). And even if Paris FC was hooked in Nîmes (1-1), the FCSM did really well to win this Saturday to already consolidate its 5th place, and above all to stay in contact with its direct opponents for the rise in League 1, whether direct or via dams. “I wouldn’t say there are 11 finals left but 11 very important matches, nothing is over, we know where we want to go, we have to continue on this dynamic” says the captain Gaëtan Weissbeck. It is now up to Sochaliens to move from words to deeds by not missing, this time, this new shock at the top on Saturday in Auxerre. To give hope to its formidable supporters.