Nantes: 2
Saint-Étienne: 2
At the end of an eventful match, the Nantes team, although dominant in the first part of the match, conceded a draw against Saint-Étienne on Sunday September 29.
Nantes slowed down, Saint-Étienne penultimate
Antoine Kombouaré’s players may have regrets. This draw slows them down in their progress and prevents them from reaching the Top 5 in the championship. The outcome of the meeting, however, matters to the Greens who leave with an unexpected point. They nevertheless remain penultimate (17e) of Ligue 1 in front of Angers.
For almost an hour, Nantes celebrated the 40th anniversary of Beaujoire with dignity. The anniversary was highlighted on a very beautiful tifo before the meeting in the stands.
A very large Lepenant to carry Nantes
Under the leadership of Johann Lepenant, who seems to have been the right pick of the transfer window on the Canary side, the Nantes residents were in control. Very free and very active in his role as a relay midfielder, he placed his team in an ideal position after 50 minutes of play.
On an action that he had initiated, relayed by Matthis Abline and Nicolas Cozza, Lepenant followed well into the area to recover the ball that was lying around and catapult it into the back of the net (1-0, 10e).
At the start of the second half, he walked along the corner line like a tightrope walker to serve Sorba Thomas behind for the 2-0 (49e). Nantes’ domination was then unchallenged against the valiant Greens but limited especially in the use of the ball.
Antoine Kombouaré’s men would have even deserved to lead more widely. A little ball pricked by Douglas Augusto went very narrowly wide (40e) and Abline found the post at 54e.
An unexpected return from Saint-Étienne
But while nothing really suggested this, in two actions Saint-Étienne came back to the level.
On a two-step corner, Zuriko Davitashvili’s returning cross was touched by Ibrahim Sissoko to reduce the score in favor of the Greens (2-1, 57e).
The same Sissoko then transformed a penalty conceded by Jean-Charles Castelleto, his second in two matches, for an involuntary elbow in an aerial duel with Mickaël Nadé (2-2, 68e).
Despite one last big opportunity for Florent Mollet at the start of added time, Nantes had to settle for this sharing of points which seemed unfinished.
The sheet
Half time: 1-0.
Referee: M. Kherradji.
Buts : for Nantes, Lepenant (10e), Thomas (49e) ; for Saint-Étienne, Sissoko (57e68e sp).
Warnings: in Nantes, Abline (53e), Castelletto (65e) ; in Saint-Étienne, Amougou (72e), Larsonneur (90e).
Exclusion : in Nantes, Coco (90e).
