Rouen – LOSC: Ismaily solid, Bakker liquefies

The Lille residents have finished their calendar year with qualification for the next round of the Coupe de France, by having FC Rouen on the edge (0-1). From 4 to 7, discover our scores after this 32nd final between Lille and Rouennais.

Man of the Match

Scorer, but not only that. The Brazilian side Ismaily (7), author of the only goal of the match (21′, 1-0), found his legs against Rouen this Friday evening. In the shadow of Gabriel Gudmundsson since his return from injury, he calmly seized his chance by offering numerous runs without the ball. One of them rewarded, therefore. He also defended by moving forward (7 recoveries), particularly in the first period, allowing him to be a spearhead in certain offensives. He even delivers a delicious lofted ball towards Sahraoui, close to opening the mark (21′). In the second act, he was one of the only ones to respond. Very rarely the Rouen incursions went on his side. Replaced by Gudmundsson (79′), discreet.

The satisfactions

Aligned as usual on the left wing of the Lille attack, Osame Sahraoui (7) again scored valuable points and confirmed, once again, that LOSC could very quickly find themselves dependent on their accelerations. Even more so in the absence of Edon Zhegrova. The Moroccan winger thus gave a bad evening to his evening opponents, Jason Mbock and Dany Goprou, constantly outpaced by his flashes (3′, 7′, 16′, 23′). He nevertheless provoked the anger of his coach, Bruno Genesio, certainly accusing him of being complacent in front of the goal, when his shot with the flat of his foot at close range was repelled by Axel Maraval (10').
He could even (should?) have been a decisive passer after a marvelous pass to Mitchel Bakker (45′), who harvested (see elsewhere). The 23-year-old winger's second period, like LOSC, was not as dazzling. He does slightly too much, for example, at the hour mark, getting tangled in his own dribbles rather than trying his luck. Replaced by Mathis Fernandez-Pardo (79′), bold but messy.

It would certainly be too easy to reduce LOSC's lack of offensive efficiency to Jonathan David (6), captain of the evening, who went out of his way to offer relay solutions to his teammates. Facing the Rouen low block, he multiplied the runs into the void and did not lack imagination in his deflection play. He also delivers the decisive pass after being found at the feet. His dry shot at the end of the first period ends up hitting the post (45+2′). Very much in demand in the second half, more for finishing than for creation, he nevertheless sinned (57′, 59′, 71′).

The disappointments

Established alongside Bafodé Diakité in the central hinge, Aïssa Mandi (5) was relatively little worried. He and his compatriot did not concede a clear opportunity. If not one, which could have been costly, following an error of judgment by the Algerian defender, who thought he was protecting his ball until the exit in six meters… Taken by surprise, Mandi then observed Mbondi miss the frame (13′). Apart from this error, he was solid. Without exuding serenity on all floors either.

If there is a Lille resident who lost points this Friday evening before leaving on vacation, it is without a doubt Mitchell Bakker (4). Once again aligned on the right of the Lille offensive front, to fill the absence of Zhegreova, the Dutch versatile showed all his limits against FC Rouen. First, in his placement with the ball or in the counter-pressing phases. Then, above all, in the last gesture, where he was often clumsy (15′, 33′, 45′). Eclipsed in the second act, he focused on defensive tasks and no longer weighed on the game at all. Replaced by Haraldsson (74′), who claimed a penalty – ultimately not whistled – after a collision in the area (85′).

Nathan BIGUÉ