After the defeat on Saturday in Andrézieux (4-1), the Crocodiles must bounce back to now aim for at least 2nd place in Pool C of National 2 and hope for a miracle on the last day.
Inconspicuous. The Crocodiles were inconspicuous on Saturday, May 2 in Andrézieux-Bouthéon where they suffered their seventh loss of the season, the heaviest (4-1).
The ranking of Pool C in National 2
“We went from champagne football against Cannes to poor football,” one observer remarked, while emphasizing how challenging it is to always stay at the top. “It’s not easy to win matches,” Mickaël Gas also mentioned.
Much was lacking. At the Envol Stadium, facing an opponent without several key players (first starts for Jorjet in goal and Khoutri in defense), the Crocodiles lacked many things: lucidity, inspiration, precision, success, energy, and juice, after the energy displayed a week earlier against Cannes.
Dramé’s expulsion instantly disrupted Nanterre, as admitted by Vincent Pirès. The red card disorganized the Crocodiles’ game plan, causing mental struggles to overcome this setback. Mickaël Gas openly expressed, “It destabilized us, we didn’t know how to handle the match with ten players each.”
Up to that point, his team had not played a great game, not shining but somewhat in control. After halftime, everything fell apart.
The echoes of the Crocodiles
Free kick. The Crocodiles only conceded two goals from direct free kicks this season. Both were against Andrézieux-Bouthéon!
In the first leg, Mangonzo fired his shot under the bar (1-1). In the return, Le Her curled his strike towards the near post (4-1).
Crossbars. Depres and Pirès hit the woodwork in Andrézieux on Saturday. It was the 5th time in the Championship that a Crocodile attempt was thwarted by the crossbar.
Red card. Dramé was sent off in Andrézieux after two bookings, becoming the fourth Crocodile to see red this season after Sarr (2nd round), Pirès (15th), and Diallo (16th).
Assist. Providing the cross for Khasa’s goal, Loubacky delivered his first decisive pass of the season on Saturday. He is the 11th Crocodile to achieve at least one assist.
Broken spring
Nanterre was caught off guard by Le Her’s direct free kick and never managed to recover. The spring was broken. Depres described it as a “shipwreck. We didn’t put in the ingredients we wanted and were punished by a good team. National 2 doesn’t forgive.”
Trailing, Nanterre got exposed, left gaps, lost its usual structure, and was exploited and countered. Above all, as noted by Pirès, Nanterre got “beaten in duels and overrun.”
“We will do the math in the end”
“All demoralized” (Pirès) after this heavy defeat which cost them their grip on promotion to Ligue 3, the Nîmes players haven’t given up, even if the heart might not fully be in it anymore.
“We took a big blow behind the head, but we’ve always been able to bounce back, and we still have to do it,” Mickaël Gas said.
“We need to get back to work, earn 6 points against Istres and Limonest, and then we will do the math at the end,” Pirès tried to look ahead positively.
“We can’t give up. Let’s do things right until the end of the season to avoid regrets, which would be the worst thing,” Depres emphasized.
For President Cenatiempo, “there’s still something at stake”
Thierry Cenatiempo delivered the same message to the Crocodile squad in the silent locker room on Saturday night.
“We don’t have the right or the time to be discouraged and keep our heads down, it’s impossible because a big match awaits us next Saturday against Istres,” highlighted the president of Nîmes Olympique. “There’s still something at stake. We know that the second place could be crucial, and in that regard, we still have control. With two victories, we would secure second place.”
Regarding the first place and promotion, Mr. Cenatiempo still wants to believe: “If we do our job, it will be 50/50.”
End-of-season schedule: Cannes (1st, 54 pts) visits Rousset and hosts Saint-Maur; Saint-Maur (2nd, 54 pts) hosts Hyères and visits Cannes; Nîmes (3rd, 53 pts) hosts Istres and visits Limonest.
