Sochaux supporters hoped for a place on the podium as a gift, but Valenciennes came to disrupt the delivery of Santa Claus. The FCSM, quickly led to the score, reacted in the second half. The Yellow and Blues remain at the fifth place in the ranking of Ligue 2, at the end of the first leg.
A totally failed first half
Omar Daf players have perhaps delivered one of their worst first-half score of the season. In a Bonal stadium looking like a freezer for the New Year’s Eve turkey, Valenciennes, in bad shape in the standings, was able to execute his plan to perfection. Ayité allowed the Northerners to open the scoring (11 ‘), and without an efficient Jeannin, VA could have led quickly 2-0 (14 ‘).
Opposite, the Sochaux eleven seemed without idea and without solution against a fast and aggressive Valencian team.
A red card and everything changes
At the break, Omar Daf decided to change his plans, leaving Ambri and Thioune, to bring in Do Couto and Ndiaye. The Sochaliens seemed more in control of their game, and pushed Valenciennes to the fault.
The northern left-back Quentin Lecoeuche received a second yellow (55 ‘), and the Yellow and Blue got back to hope. In numerical superiority, higher, sharper and more voluntary, the Sochaliens were able to equalize thanks to a good call from Aldo Kalulu, who was able to serve Tony Mauricio (63 ‘).
During the last half hour, Valenciennes built a fortress in front of Chevalier, his guardian. Despite a few chances, and the entries of Kitala, Tebily and Virginius, the Yellow and Blue failed to break through the northern wall.
Sochaux therefore concludes a successful half-season in a frustrating way. The FCSM is in fifth place, and is within the expected split times, five points behind the leader and three points from the podium. It remains to be seen whether potential reinforcements in the winter transfer window (general manager Samuel Laurent told France Bleu Belfort Montbéliard on Monday evening to be looking for a striker) will allow for an even better second half of the season. It will start with a delicate trip to Le Havre, sixth, on January 8.
Reactions to be found in the evening on francebleu.fr and Wednesday morning in the morning of France Bleu Belfort-Montbéliard.