Salim Fiorentino’s Crocodilets took their time before making the Marseillais of Air Bel give in and achieve a third success in a row.
The U17 Nationals of Nîmes Olympique started the year well by dominating Air Bel on Sunday January 19. This is their third success in a row, their sixth match without defeat. “We need to recover points to distance the teams behind us and work more calmly.”confided coach Salim Fiorentino afterwards, whose team is in 11th place (out of 14).
Physical commitment but no technical accuracy in the first period
The first ten minutes are marked by physical commitment. The circles, full of enthusiasm, do not count their efforts, sometimes to the detriment of technical accuracy. “We forgot to play Football in the first halflamented Fiorentino. I expected madness in the last thirty meters, I wanted us to create things.”
The technical sheet
Nîmes Olympique – Air Bel: 3-1.
The Bastide.
Half time: 0-0.
Arbitre : Matheo Miguelgorry.
Goals for Nîmes: Sbaï (52e), Benkeda (57e), Delsaut (90e + 3).
Goal for Air Bel: Cures (88e).
The first Gardian strike, the work of Abdesselem, arrived only in the 40th minute. “It was a problem of trust, we didn’t take our responsibilities. We were able to do it in the second half, we played more direct and it paid off.”commented Yanis Benkeda.
-A header and a powerful shot to break the deadlock
Elyazidi shows the way, but his shot is too crossed (50th). Sbaï finally opens the score with a header, after a mix-up (1-0, 52nd). On their momentum, the Nîmes besiege the Marseille goal. Benkeda increases the score with a powerful shot from 25 meters (2-0, 57th).
After two missed shots, Curis was rewarded and reduced the gap for Air Bel, with the flat of his foot (2-1, 88th). Delsaut sealed the Nîmes victory by beating Thaurin in added time (3-1, 90th + 3). “I didn’t score much, it’s nice to help the team with this complicated end to the match”concluded the author of the last goal.
Belgium
