Two hours later, at the entrance of the twenty-two actors on the field in better condition than against Locminé two weeks earlier, Aviron Bayonnais knew that they had a good chance to play with the Girondins who were beaten at home by Chauray at half-time (0-3) and the draw with Saint-Malo the day before against Angoulême (1-1). With a new-look defense (Bardy injured, Gassama suspended), the Bayonnais were going to dominate the ball from the start of the game. Under Ros’s furious lead finding Saintorens in the Dinan area, Valla was going to open the scoring but Mendy saved his team (4th minute). The tone was set and Aviron’s total dominance was evident.
Fiery Start
Montavit didn’t hit the target with his volley from the edge of the box (7th minute) and Valla missed his shot on a pass from Saintorens (12th minute). The opening goal was not long in coming: Latron found Saintorens on the left in the box. The young Basque striker found Nfati for a left-footed finish (19th minute, 1-0). Picoulet was denied by Pistol (23rd minute) and Valla had a goal disallowed for an initial offside position (26th minute).
Aviron unfolded their game, found solutions in the gaps, and increased their combinations. The only thing missing was the finishing. And what about Dinan? Dinan scored with their first action. A long throw where the giant Bongo caught the ball and sent a cross for his captain Lefebvre to score (28th minute, 1-1). Aviron lost some of its brilliance. It was clearly a weak moment for the players of the Bafcop-Mendes duo until halftime, even if Dinan didn’t trouble Quilichini in goal, well saved nevertheless by Saintorens on a free-kick from Jacquemin (36th minute).
First goal for Fortunato
The start of the second half was more closed. The visitors from Morbihan were pressing the Basque players higher up the field. The game was less loose than in the first half, Aviron took much longer to find the real gaps and spaces. Dinan took their time and waited for their moment.
The substitutes would do the job in the last twenty minutes. Hattab, just coming on, made an immediate impact. With a fine shot from twenty-five meters, the new striker saw his effort narrowly miss the top corner of Pistol’s goal (70th minute) and Mendy saved his goalkeeper on his powerful header from a cross by Nfati (72nd minute). But De Lima found the net with a brilliant pass straight down the middle for Fortunato’s first goal in his new colors (90th minute, 2-1). Aviron Bayonnais solidified their third place and closed the gap to four small points behind Girondins de Bordeaux, who are in second place.
He said
Emmanuel Bafcop, Bayonne coach: “It’s a logical victory. And against a team that defends in a low block, very compact, we know that scoring first is crucial. Despite that, we conceded the equalizer. But the first half was very good. Where I am very happy, is that the players kept playing, being patient. They deserved to believe until the end. And then, it’s three substitutes who were decisive. The group once again responded present. We continue on our way. The job is done.”
