No Christmas present for Drancy against Nantes – Seine-Saint-Denis

Nelsy and Ruben's eyes shine. A few minutes before the start of the match which will pit their club against FC Nantes, the two U11 players from JA Drancy, who came with their families, do not miss a bit of the show. “Besides, I’ve already played here at Bauer. Well, not on the main field, but behind, on the training field »says Ruben proudly. Both see their club win, 2-1 for Ruben, 2-0 for Nelsy. To dream is to already gain a little.

But on Saturday, Santa Claus was not very generous with Ruben and Nelsy, and the approximately thousand licensees who filled the ranks of the Bauer stadium, the Red Star club where the meeting had been relocated (out of the 1635 in the JA Drancy). On the field, the teammates of Sanogo, valiant captain, lost heavily 4-0. Matthis Abline, inspired Nantes center forward, notably put the defense of the Blues – the color of Drancy – to torture. At the 21^ethe former Rennais took advantage of a good opening from Castelletto to open the counter for the Canaries, however not the most serene at kick-off given their situation in the championship (14^e). And at 34^ehe did it again, this time on a double one-two with Douglas Augusto of great beauty.

“Some regrets, but above all pride”

The Drancéens, however, fought with their weapons, notably causing a shiver in the visitors' defense on a few counterattacks: immediately after Nantes opened the score, Kadded, served by a good cross from captain Sanogo, could have equalized directly. And at 42^eit was right-back Fofana who narrowly missed the target with a beautiful volley.

But the 4 divisions difference between the two clubs finally spoke. At 63^eNathan Zézé, taken from a corner, increased the score with a powerful header (0-3) and Mostafa Mohamed, who came on, was on the receiving end of a cross from Amian to plant a 4^e nail (82^e). “I have some regrets about situations that we played poorly, like this equalizing ball that we had immediately after opening the score”estimated Himed Hamma, JAD coach, afterwards. “But overall, we mostly have pride. For the players, the staff and all the people who prepared this meeting in the shadows. Matches like that will serve us well for the future”continued the man who also coached Bobigny in the past.

The dream of JAD, a club which had already seen the 16^e in 2018-19 against Metz, so stops there. But FC 93 Bobigny, another 93 club engaged tomorrow Sunday against Angers, will perhaps be able to avenge them.

Christophe Lehousse