We don’t stop the USO at the end of the season. Not even the torrential rain, hail or even snow, which fell this Friday on the Dominique Duvauchelle stadium in Creteil, during the 29th day of National. A 1-0 success acquired at the end of the first half thanks to Esteban Lepaul. The people of Orleans chain a third row win after their two stunning successes at Avranches then against Le Mans (2-1 each time).
US Orleans was able to punish the first relegation player on his first real free chance, at the end of the first half (39 ‘). On a breakthrough on the right side, Djessine Sebastill a convincing replacement for Jimmy Halby-Tourefound Ibrahim Sangare in the penalty area, who cleverly put away in one touch on Esteban Lepaul. Lonely eight meters from the cage Riffi Mandandahe adjusted the Cristolian Gatekeeper to inscribe his sixth goal of the season (now co-top scorer for the club with Ibrahim Sangaré). Well paid, because Créteil had several opportunities to open the scoring, through Chergui or from a set piece.
First penalty saved by L’Hostis with the USO
But the USO can especially thank Frank L’Hostis, again author of an impeccable match. The goalkeeper released his first penalty in Orleans colors on the hour mark. For a questionable fault of Ismaël Keita on Dabo wanting to clear a ball, the referee did not hesitate. But Araujo did not manage to surprise the former Monegasque who, as against Le Mans, allowed his partners to stay in the game and above all to continue his race in the lead.
Ibrahim Sangare Where Timothy Nkada could have pushed the Ile-de-France residents, without success. Final score 1-0. With 43 points, US Orléans goes back to the eighth place in the standingsseven points from the podium pending the meeting between Sedan and Concarneau, Monday. Enough to leave some regrets over the whole of the Orleans season, despite a great year 2022 with only one defeat, against Villefranche. Objective now: finish as high as possible and undefeated. so it goes through a big performance during the derby against Chateauroux at the Stade de la Source, for the 30th day of National.
The reactions
Esteban Lepaul, USO striker
“It’s nice to score a second goal in two games, it allows us to win and it’s a major success. It was really tough conditions: snow, hail, wind, rain, etc. But we were solid and we can thank Franck (L’Hostis, Editor’s note) who took the penalty. There is a justice because it should not have been granted. You have to know how to hunker down when you’re not doing well and that’s what we did tonight“.
Xavier Collin, USO coach
“When we see the pace we have and the points we’ve won, and we’re not catching up with those in front, it confirms that we don’t have the right to miss two months of competition as we did. It will certainly leave regrets if we have a very good end to the season, which we hope. We will have taken a little time to find the right formula, but now we are looking to the future with this derby which will be fun to prepare and play against Châteauroux.“