Despite an incalculable number of clear chances, the Gym didn’t manage to find the back of the net and was punished by two sumptuous MHSC goals on the counter.

Lucien Favre and the Red and Blacks were left for 15 days to ponder on their unthinkable defeat at the hands of Marseille. They will only have 4 days before their next competitive game (Thursday against Lazio), but, unfortunately, the outcome of this game in the Hérault will also leave them with several headaches.

The Swiss coach opted for his traditional 4-4-2, in which Jallet and Koziello made returns. A system that fitted well with the opponent’s 3-5-2. From the get-go the Red and Blacks threatened through Plea (4') and Balotelli (7').

Since the start of the season, the Aiglons have managed to create themselves lots of chances, but they have also, unfortunately, conceded too many. In the first period, it was from dead-ball situations that Montpellier were threatening, thankfully, with little accuracy with off-target headers coming from Aguilar (5') and Hilton (36'). But in the midst of all this, it was mainly the Azuréens who had the best opportunities. And what chances! From a misunderstanding between Congré and Hilton, Plea clipped the ball in the box but could only find Lecomte. Balotelli followed in and thought he had scored into the open goal, but that was ignoring the incredible stop from the opposition’s keeper (27'). In the seconds that followed, St Maximin left the opponents in his wake but also found Lecomte with his effort (28'). The same punishment for Jallet who opened up his foot smartly, but once again, the goalkeeper was there to deny (29'). At the end of the half, after a superb piece of control, Super Mario earned himself a chance but was quickly closed down by the final line of defence of the ‘men dressed in pink’ for the day.

The Aiglons’ start to the second period was more complicated. It’s an unfortunate recurrence of this first third of the Red and Blacks’ season, as they were surprised in the 55' by a missile from Sessegnon, a superb finish for sure, but one in which the man from Benin had far too much time to drive forward and prepare to strike.

Trailing by one goal, the Niçois did, however, have the opportunity to come back into the game. This time, Lecomte didn’t need to get out his superhero costume. He was deputised on his line by Aguilar from a strike fired in by Lees-Melou after Saint-Maximin had done well on the right. Then, Alassane Plea missed his strike whilst 1-on-1, having been played in brilliantly by Balotelli.

One missed opportunity too many for the Gym, who fell to defeat a few moments later after Isaac Mbenza, who had just come on, curled smartly into the back of the net (2-0, 75')...

With 10 points from 9 games, the Aiglons have already left many points behind them and will need to lift their heads next Sunday for the visit of Strasbourg to the Allianz Riviera.

A.D.

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