PAUC won the Provence derby against Istres. A match in which Aix came from behind after being behind for a large part of the match.
The Provence derby has found its winner. And this is PAUC. This Sunday at the Istres multipurpose hall, the Aixois delivered a solid performance against Istres, which despite its successful first half, conceded its ninth defeat in a row and remains in the relegation zone.
The start of the match is tight between the two teams who go goal for goal. The attacks take over the defenses (4-4 after 7 minutes). The latter are quite harsh, which causes several fouls and a first yellow card for Foulques (Istres) then Sidibe for PAUC.
A controlled first half for Istres…
The first advantage that emerges is for the locals. It is kept by Romain Mathias, author of two judgments. Istres could have widened its lead, but struggled in the offensive zone in this second ten. Until Raphaël Kotters' magnificent strike which gave the first 2 point difference of this match (6-4 in the 16th minute).
A click in this first half for the purples who took off to 8-4 a minute later, thanks to a solid defense which allowed them to counter the PAUC. An advantage due in part to the goalkeeper who, in these first 20 minutes, displays a save rate of 50%.
PAUC will stop the bleeding of the last five minutes and reduce the gap to 9-7, taking advantage of a weaker shot from the Istreans, less sharp since their 9th goal scored.
After a goal on each side, bringing the score to 10-8, number 11 Adam Lonn received the first two-minute suspension of the evening.
Just before the break, Romain Mathias, in great form, kept Istres ahead. The players return to the locker room with a score of 11-9 in favor of the Istreans.
… which collapsed in the second period
Istres returns to the field, determined to be solid defensively and to hurt on the counterattack. A method that worked in the first half and which worked over the first five minutes of the second half with a score of 14-11 in the 35th minute.
Rohan Conte is sent off for 2 minutes (35'). A period of time during which PAUC will slightly reduce its gap (14-12) with a penalty superbly taken by Joze Baznik which starts the second act of this meeting strong. Which allows Aix to return to one length of the premises. Borges is excluded for two minutes and gives Aix a penalty.
But Nick Deekens takes him out and Istres notices on the counter. Aix will then come back within a length in a match which is increasingly tight. The two teams go goal for goal. Pauc equalized and finally came back to level with his opponent in the 43rd minute thanks to a superb goal from Eliot Desblancs who slipped between the Istres defenders (16-16).
He is even on the verge of giving his team the advantage. But he comes up against Romain Mathias who maintains his team who will regain the advantage just behind. Aix will reveal itself a little more to get back in front by taking out its goalkeeper.
A strategy which, in the end, does not change much since Istres, very compact defensively, counters and scores twice in this way on their opponent (20-19 in the 49').
10 minutes from the end, Aix equalized (20-20) for a close end to the match. Then, they take the advantage for only the second time in the match. An advantage that Aix will defend in part thanks to their very prominent goalkeeper like his Istrian friend. Which will allow Aix to materialize their gap with three new goals. (21-24).
Then Foulques, going on the counterattack, will give hope to an entire gymnasium two minutes from the end (22-24). Without consequence, since PAUC will finally win the derby (23-27('') in a more than tense end to the match.
Istres concedes another defeat and remains in the red zone, 6 points behind their evening opponents.
Reactions to come in the evening.
