Yesterday afternoon, Le Mans beat Toulouse 2-0 and ended Toulouse’s unbeaten home record. Despite Altunkulak hitting the post late in the match, Le Mans confirmed their well-deserved third place.
Toulouse 0 – Le Mans 2
HT: 0-1. Referee: Siham Benmahammed assisted by Inesse Beggui and Melissa Rossignol. 515 spectators.
For Le Mans: Faity (33), Bekhti (86).
TOULOUSE FC: Grillon – Jumière-Seignou (cap., Sierra, 75), Bogi, Riquelme-Jouanin (Pardon, 66), Atamaniuk, Pérez, Marty (Bouzman, 85), Solanet (Champagnac, 66), Grinfan (Yacob, 66); Lapassouse, Altunkulak.
Warnings: Atamaniuk (22), Marty (56).
LE MANS: Dumas – Roger, Hoarau (cap.), Oger (D’Oria, 75), Bourdoiseau, Guermazi (Bekhti, 79), Ibrahim, Favennec; Chapelle, Dechilly, Faity (Lemarchand, 88).
Notification: Faity (65).
Whether scorching hot or not, there’s no question of burning those we have loved and who, no doubt, will continue to excite their loyal supporters until the end of the summer, perhaps from La Ramée’s side.
They came in large numbers (we recognized William Servat among them) yesterday afternoon, to witness a potential flawless performance at home because, remember, whether on the side field or at the Municipal Stadium, Toulouse only had victories.
But very quickly, it was necessary to face the facts. It wouldn’t be easy to fault the false rhythm imposed by Le Mans, who don’t end up on the third step of the podium by chance following closely behind the Malouin runner-up. Not precise enough in reading a centering pass trajectory, Gaëlle Grillon lets a ball slip, and Charlotte Faity, well positioned, takes advantage to open the scoring for Le Mans. Like in the first leg – and this reminder is not insignificant as TFC had already been defeated – the chase began but the collective effort was not enough. Few or no real chances, the halftime break made no difference.
Altunkulak hits the woodwork in injury time
Far from being on the defensive, Le Mans continues to offer a double content, both tactical and technical, of great interest. And while Gaëlle Grillon wins her duel against Faity, a later header by Nassima Bekhti leaves her helpless: 2-0, the game is over.
In injury time, Altunkulak came very close to pulling one back but the right post (facing Jade Dumas’s goal, impeccable from start to finish) denied this final feat.
Time for holidays, which the French champions have truly earned. As visitors, we hope for similar fortunes in the next season as their rivals from the Pink City, narrowly surpassed, as we remember, by Marseille and Lens in the final spring stretch.
