On Saturday in Limonest, for the 30th and final day of Ligue 3, the Crocos did their job, but so did Cannes. Despite eighteen victories, promotion is not on the cards just yet.
Nîmes Olympique won. Nîmes did everything right, taking the win in a controlled and dominant game on Saturday, May 16th, against the promoted Limonest, despite a drop in performance in the last twenty minutes.
The results of the 30th matchday and the standings of Group C of National 2.
Nîmes secured their 18th victory of the season, the highest total in Group C, but they will not be promoted to Ligue 3 by just one point. Not for now, not immediately. Because Cannes also secured a 1-0 victory against Saint-Maur, the first success for the team against a top 6 member, making the situation bitter.
Second, but not the best second (Bordeaux and Bourges, in other groups, have more points), Nîmes will now have to wait for a potential repêchage.
“On est privé de bonheur mais on est fier”
Thierry Cenatiempo (president of Nîmes): “Congratulations to AS Cannes. We can’t celebrate, be happy, or joyful. We are deprived of happiness even though we have this inner pride for the work done until the end. There is also this bond with our supporters, who are sad but also happy because they have found a club and a team.”
Mickaël Gas (coach of Nîmes): “Until the end, we didn’t give up. My players were incredible this season in their spirit, they revived the values of the club, reignited the flame. We finish with a very good second place, one point behind Cannes. It was a close call. I am convinced that there are beautiful days ahead for NO.”
Crocos on a Mission
The Nîmes players could not afford to lose on Saturday. Mentally prepared for a Cannes victory, as recognized by Benhamza, they were on a mission from the first minute, with a shot from Touré too high.
Before the breakthrough, a quick free-kick by Benhamza to Bennour in the box, whose shot, deflected, finally beat Ostrowski (0-1, 40th, 5th goal by the left-footed Croco), Nîmes Olympique piled up five corners and eight clear chances.
Eight clear chances before opening the scoring
But Depres almost missed the easy chance twice (6th, 29th). But Bennour, like Olise, saw his first curled shot saved in two attempts by Ostrowski (11th) and the second hit the post (30th). But on Touré’s third assist, Pirès missed the ball (21st). But Touré and Khasa were denied by an unbeatable Ostrowski (31st, 33rd).
After the break, in an impossible angle, magic Bennour deceived Ostrowski with a stunning shot (0-2, 47th). And on another assist from Touré, Doucouré’s shot was not sufficiently blocked by the Limonest goalkeeper (0-3, 55th).
The technical sheet
Limonest – Nîmes: 2-3. Parc des Sports Courtois Fillot. Half-time: 0-1. Referee: Ali Djedid. Goals for Limonest: Alexander (68th), Sergio Domingos (77th). Goals for Nîmes: Bennour (40th, 47th), Doucouré (55th). LIMONEST: Ostrowski (cap.) – Pellier (Djae, 86th), Abanda (Guechi, 83rd), Tanard – Royet, Cateland, Radojevic (Akremi, 87th), Gueye – Mai (Sergio Domingos, 59th), Bichet (Alexander, 59th), Singoura. NÎMES: Salamone (Dias, 67th) – Loubacky, Dramé, Martinez – Bennour (Kubota, 87th), Benhamza, Pirès, Doucouré – Khasa (Sylla, 73rd), Depres (Coulibaly, 66th), Touré.
450 km away, Cannes scores and dashes Nîmes’ hopes
Nîmes had done more than their fair share. But, between their second and third goals, 450 km away, Cannes had opened the scoring against Saint-Maur.
The Nîmes players, of course, let their guard down and Dias, who had just replaced Salamone (right adductor, 67th), conceded two goals from Alexander and Sergio Domingos (1-3, 68th; 2-3, 77th). Without consequences.
An exceptional season nonetheless
At the final whistle, after a last communion with the three hundred supporters present in the Rhône, the words pride and disappointment echoed in the mouths of the Crocos who came from nowhere last July and eventually came so close to Ligue 3. “On and off the field, we experienced an exceptional season,” coach Mickaël Gas concluded simply.
