Despite dominating the encounter, the Gym didn’t manage to kill off the game at Le Stadium during Week 9 of Ligue 1 (1-1). They take home a point from Haute-Garonne, along with some regrets...

Football comes down to very little. To those small details that are so precious to coaches and players. The details that turn domination into just one point. The details that could have transformed a draw into a victory, with a bit more ruthlessness.

Switching his tactics at kick-off with a 3-4-3, with one less midfielder, and Srarfi and Myziane joining Saint-Maximin, Patrick Vieira made an audacious choice. The choice took just ten minutes to pay off. Because with a remodelled midfield, and three forwards, the Aiglons took control before the 15 minute mark, and then dominated the game. This domination showed in the duels that they won, a pressing across the pitch and a desire to defend on the front foot. Toulouse couldn’t clear the ball and looked for solutions, then started to fall to pieces, caught out by the movement of a compact block.

This strength in their pressing was the decisive point of the first half. It allowed the Niçois to find their feet in the game, to win a huge amount of the ball, to begin to play and finally, to open the scoring, after some poor pressure from… Les Violets. It was in the 29th minute when Walter Benitez and Hérelle defended stoically in the box, and Lees-Melou won an important battle on the edge of the box before finding Myziane. The number 26 pushed on through the middle and then played in Bassem Srarfi. The Tunisian brought back memories of last season, and from an impossible angle, slipped the ball through the legs of Reynet to open the scoring and pump out his muscles (0-1, 29’).

The Red and Blacks controlled the encounter until the break, led by an impeccable Hérelle and Lees-Melou who made good choice after good choice. Without ever shaking - apart from a couple of set-pieces in the first 10 minutes - with the lead on the board and a few chances in their favour (run and strike from Saint-Maximin which was caught by Reynet in the 16th minute; an off-target volley from Atal in the 20th minute; a deep run and then a lobbed shot from Srarfi in the 33rd minute).

The Gym misses a chance

They came out with the same intentions in the final 45 minutes, but were caught out, against the run of play, by a Dossevi equaliser, who perfectly finished a cross from Manu Garcia (1-1, 54'), just moments after a strike over the top by Lees-Melou. 

3 minutes after the equaliser, the Aiglons missed an incredible chance. The real turning point in this 9th game of the season, you could be tempted to write. Saint-Maximin picked up the ball deep and travelled towards goal, beat Reynet, but couldn’t quite finish into the open goal (due to a tight angle), played into Srarfi, who then found Myziane. The former Lyon man was unable to control. The Gym had missed a chance.

After this, the Aiglons continued to push for the win. Starting on the left, Coly cut inside and tried his luck with his right foot, without success (69'). At the other end Dossevi, also missed the target  (71'). 

Patrick Vieira sent on Rémi Walter to bring a little more density to the heart of the game and to allow Lees-Melou to play slightly further forward. The Gym dominated territorially, but couldn’t secure the victory.

Viera’s side will begin the international break with the satisfaction of having put in a great performance, but with regrets that they were unable to get their deserved reward.

C.D.

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