Focus

A combative performance

On Saturday, Les Aiglons picked up three more points in Nîmes (2-1), where they were forced to put in a fighting performance. A battle for which they had been prepared...

A real battle at the Stade des Costières. Aiglons and Crocos, reduced to 9 men and with last season’s encounter in mind (1-0 victory), Week 2 of the 2019-20 season promised to be a physical fixture.

We had focused our work on the physical aspects and the implementation of our tactics, explained Cyprien - scorer, provider and winner of 75% of his duels. We really respected them“, as shown by Le Gym’s two goal lead after just 16 minutes.

But Dante and co. had to cope with the threat from a home side that was driven on by its supporters. “We tried to blank all of that out and to play our own football” reassured Burner, who started on a particularly busy right wing, from where he made six clearances.

Togetherness in adversity

Once their lead had been reduced (1-2, 45') and Coly had been sent off (51'), Patrick Vieira’s side tightened it up. “We got a red card pretty early on in the second half, with over half an hour to play with just ten men” added Clémentia, who was making his second start in L1 on Saturday.

Under suffocating pressure, “we showed that we are a real team”, commented Tameze, who succeeded in 92.6% of his passes during the encounter, including 100% in the opposition’s half. “Despite the difficulties, we managed to hold on for the whole of the match. We really wanted to put in an excellent performance for our supporters”, confessed the second goalscorer "Ganagoal" - who was fouled on four occasions (Nîmes made a total of 21 during the match). I think it’s unfair that they were unable to travel but we will take the three points home to them and we can be proud of that.”

A “painful” victory, perhaps, but as Cyprien described, ”these are always the best!