These reunions in Mériadeck were salivating. The Bordeaux public was not mistaken for this 5th sold-out in seven home matches. And on the momentum of their victory in Amiens (1-5) on Tuesday, the 7th in the last eight matches, the Bordelais were quick to set the tone: barely 40 seconds and the Finnish goalkeeper Oskari Setänen stretched out his leg to stop a point-blank attempt by his compatriot Julius Valtonen. The tone was set.
Fierce battle
However, this first third boiled down for many to a fierce battle for possession of the puck in the neutral zone. After the pressure from Bordeaux in the first moments, the Rouennais finally showed themselves to be the most dangerous. In the space of a full minute, Vigners (4’30”), Lampérier (5’06”) came up against an imperial Quentin Papillon, then Perron (5’39”) missed the target by a whisker .
The Boxers found themselves in superiority after the 2 minutes inflicted on Jordan Hervé for a charge against the boards but the Dragons’ defense, so crumbly since the start of the season (more than 4 goals conceded per match), held firm around Setänen. And Jevpalovs was unable to adjust the sights (14’28”).
Same scenario at the start of the second third, the Boxers stormed the Rouen cage. A momentum quickly stopped by the penalty conceded for excess. Inferiority, Bordeaux was close to giving in when a throw from defender Chakiachvili hit Papillon’s post. A heat stroke which had the merit of unbridling this shock. And to raise the intensity another notch. Olivier Dimet’s players really stepped up the pace and Salonen, twice, was close to finding the fault (27’11” and 31’24”). The solution would come from the Bordeaux defenders. Kevin Spinozzi, offset by Justin Hamonic, finally deceived Setänen’s guard with a powerful throw (33’39”). An advantage that the Boxers retained after having “killed” a new superiority of the Dragons.
Boxers sanctioned
Dominate then resist: a summary of the third third for the Bordelais. After pressing very hard, narrowly missing the goal of the break on a face-to-face won by Setänen in front of Carry (42’10”), the Boxers gave in on the third Rouen power play (for a not very obvious fault from Maxim Lamarche) with a throw into the top corner from Lindelof (44’45”). But then they held on for 1’09” in double inferiority. Much sanctioned, the Boxers still managed to win the extension… which started in inferiority. No goal. Shots on goal and a point still snatched.
No time to worry for the Boxers with the arrival of Hormadi on Sunday at Mériadeck.
Senegal
