National 2 / 30th day / If the Crocodiles won in Limonest (2-3), Cannes did the same, at home, against Saint-Maur (2-0). While AS Cannes will play in League 3 next season, the Nimes club will have to hope for a reprieve to access it.
Nimes won the crucial match in Limonest (2-3), but Cannes did the same a few hundred kilometers south, against Saint-Maur (2-0). Nimes Olympique needed just one point to be champion of National 2 Group C and secure a spot in the new League 3 promised to the Azurans next season.
For ten brief minutes straddling halftime, the Crocodiles hoped strongly in the Rhône, when Bennour opened the scoring (0-1, 40th), finally breaking Limonest’s defense, at the same time as the barrier against which the Gard supporters were leaning. More joy than fear but, above all, a great happiness at that moment.
At the 47th minute, Bennour doubled the lead… but Cannes scored first
Just after the break, Nimes believed even more strongly, with Bennour getting his second goal (0-2, 47th). The Crocodiles believed even more as Cannes and Saint-Maur, both needing to win, were at a stalemate at halftime (0-0). However, everything went wrong for NO in the 47th minute when Cannes scored first.
From then on, even though Doucouré extended the lead for Nimes (0-3, 55th), seeing some Crocodiles agitated, almost everyone in the NO camp knew what was happening on the Côte d’Azur.
The Crocodiles were scared until the end in Limonest
On the field, with the ball at their feet, it became less fluid for Mickaël Gas’s men, perhaps a bit unsettled. Limonest, without doing much more, woke up a bit in front of their home crowd.
In the span of nine minutes and two superb goals, in the top corner, scored by Alexander (1-3, 68th) and then by Sergio Domingos (2-3, 77th), deceiving Lucas Dias, who had just replaced Salamone, suffering from a right adductor injury (67th).
Nimes will have to hope for a reprieve
In the last twenty minutes of this Limonest – Nimes match, the Gardians managed to maintain their lead until the end, which was insignificant since Cannes had doubled the lead against Saint-Maur (2-0, 77th).
At the final whistle, despite the victory, the Nimes players remained motionless for a few seconds, lost in thought and illusions. The sports season has ended. It is now up to the governing bodies, including the DNCG. Nimes, 2nd, will cross their fingers and hope for a reprieve.
Fact Check:
- Nîmes Olympique (NO) finished as runners-up in National 2 Group C.
- AS Cannes secured a spot in the new League 3 for the next season.
Context:
- The article covers a football match between Nîmes Olympique and Limonest, as well as AS Cannes facing Saint-Maur.
