Far from their base, in Montpellier, LOSC led the score for a long time before being caught in stoppage time (2-2). This match, marked by significant scuffles in the final minutes, could leave a bitter blow to the Mastiffs, who lost two points in the race for the podium.
Already found wanting in Saint-Étienne (1-0), on the lawn of a promotion in difficulty at the start of the season, LOSC was warned this Sunday in Montpellier, bottom of Ligue 1: “I usually say that you can make mistakes, but if you reproduce them, it’s more annoyinginsisted Bruno Genesio at a press conference. It's not because it's the red lantern that it will be easy. »
The message was clear in Lille, all that remained was to transpose it to the heart of the Montpellier area where more than 14,000 people gathered under a sun worthy of spring. It must be said that the Montpellier residents are reaching a milestone, that of the 600th match played at home in their history.
The film of the meeting
Far from being as cool as they were in Bologna, perhaps also affected by the astonishing Montpellier heat, the Mastiffs seemed heavy on the meadow. It was still them who retained mastery of the leather, in control, and launched the hostilities with a first attempt from Ngal'ayel Mukau (4), placed higher up. Lille's game also leaned to the left, to the point that Fernandez-Pardo often switched to the axis. However, despite this dynamic, Lucas Chevalier was the first to put his hands on. The goalkeeper dove full length on a tricky shot which, however, did not appear to be on target (15').
Caught in the fight, LOSC must count on the rides of Matias Fernandez-Pardo, almost untouchable when he seizes the spaces, and the harassing pressing of Ayyoub Bouaddi, stinging on the man during the first act. These few situations were nevertheless nipped in the bud by errors in transmissions or technical waste, notably at Rémy Cabella or Jonathan David.
In the opposite direction, Lucas Chevalier was still watching, releasing a volley perfectly kicked by Téji Savanier (41′) and pushing back for a corner. This, poorly played, offered a perfect counter-attack to the Mastiffs, who played the move collectively. Matias Fernandez-Pardo, the last link in the chain, was finally hit by Jordan Ferri in the open area. Master in the art of the penalty. Jonathan David transformed the try without trembling (44′). This advantage was, however, only short-lived with Montpellier's equalizer from a corner (45+2′). Issiaga Sylla beat Alexsandro then Bafodé Diakité to put a perfect header into the back of the net. The two teams therefore returned to the locker room with a draw (1-1).
Back on the field, the meeting did not lose its physiognomy, with the exception that the rare Lille brilliance, represented by Ayyoub Bouaddi and Matias Fernandez-Pardo, had disappeared. Definitely caught up in the harshness of the game, Mastiffs and Montpellier made a series of mistakes and, throughout the game, yellow cards rained down. It was in fact with a sudden change that the second period changed for the first time. Rémy Cabella, who seemed to be going off the field, was unbalanced in the area by Joris Chotard. Jonathan David didn't ask for that much, sending his attempt into the top corner to deceive Benjamin Lecomte (54'). He thus scored his 9th goal of the season, 80th goal in Ligue 1, his 99th in Lille. In the meantime, during the intervention of the VAR, Rémy Cabella had given a blow to Téji Savanier during the first scuffles.
Despite this advantage, LOSC will never be calm, sometimes being caught behind their backs, as in an incursion by Al-Tamari whose attempt passed just above the cages (72'). Fragile, his men held on until added time, during which they finally broke down after a mix-up in the area (90+4′). The end of the match was marked by major scuffles, during which Bakker and Coulibaly were finally sent off (90+9′). LOSC, finally neutralized, thus let two new points slip away in the race for the podium (2-2).
Montpellier HSC 2-2 LOSC (1-1)
But(s) : Sylla (45+2′), Nordin (90+4′) for MHSC, David (44′, 54′) for LOSC
Warning(s): Maksimovic (9′), Tchato (35′), Savanier (52′), Sagnan (83′), Gasset (86′, 86′ rge), Coulibaly (rge 90+9′) for the MHSC, Mukau (26′ ), Alexsandro (47′), Cabella (52′), Fernandez-Pardo (89′), Bakker (rge 90+9), Haraldsson (90+13′) for LOSC
LOSC: Chevalier – Mandi, Diakité, Alexsandro, Bakker (Gudmundsson 77′)– André, Bouaddi – Fernandez (Meunier 90′), Mukau (Haraldsson 69)', Cabella (Sahraoui 69′) – David (Bayo 90′)
Coach : Bruno Genesio
Montpellier HSC : Lecomte – Tchato, Maksimovic (Bares 88′), Omeragic (Sagnan 63′), Sylla – Chotard, Ferri (Nzingoula 63′) – Al-Tamari, Savanier (Coulibaly 81′), Nordin – Khazri (Ndiaye 63′)
Coach : Jean-Louis Gasset
