the Nantes awakening, the inconstancy of Toulouse
Nantes beat Toulouse (3-1) on Sunday, during the 4th day of Ligue 1. Here are our Tops and our Flops.
TOPS
The attack awakens Nantes
Led at the break although dominant, Nantes needed a big boost in the second half to get back on a well-organized Toulouse team. Evann Guessand, Mostafa Mohamed and Moses Simon were the main architects of this comeback of the Canaries. The three men were decisive with one goal and one assist each. Guessand perfectly crossed his head to equalize on a cross from Simon (50th). The first Nantes scorer then passed on Mohamed’s goal with a very good cross (55th). On the last but canary, Simon takes up the shift in the chest of Mohamed (61st). Three men involved on three goals. A nice attacking trio guided and awakened La Beaujoire.
The artist Van den Boomen
On the opener for Téfécé, Dutch midfielder Branco Van den Boomen again made a magnificent assist. On one of his usual long serves, the young Moroccan Zakaria Aboukhlal perfectly took over from the left to deceive Alban Lafont (15th). Throughout the game, the best passer in Ligue 2 last season made his qualities speak for creation to bring a solid animation offensive. With 84% of successful passes and 62 balls hit, Van den Boomen was the only regular player on the Toulouse side who tried to calm the Nantes onslaught by effectively playing counterattacks on clean raises.
FLOPS
Nantes’ fragile defense
If the Nantes attack was close to perfection in the second half, the defense suffered some scares. Apart from Jean-Charles Castelletto (five interceptions) who held the Yellow House almost alone, Nicolas Pallois repeatedly frightened his teammates as well as the entire Beaujoire stadium with sometimes risky hesitant decisions. In the first half, when he was not pressed by Toulouse, he gave the ball back to his goalkeeper without checking that Alban Lafont was not on his line. He almost lobbed the Nantes goalkeeper, forcing the latter to make a diving header for a corner to avoid his defender’s own goal. Pallois also failed to win any duels and committed two fouls. The left side may not be doing better with an ineffective Quentin Merlin who lost 12 balls, often overtaken by Begraoui and Onaiwu.
The lack of reaction from Toulouse
By leading at the break against a Nantes team pushed by Beaujoire, Toulouse won the hard part. Even if it is never easy to get to the Canary Islands, it is clear that the so rapid relaxation of Toulouse hurts: in less than 20 minutes, Montanier’s players have conceded three goals, obtaining no opportunity on this period and declares himself to be walked on by the Nantes attacking trio. The only reaction from Téfécé comes from Fares Chaibi and his center-shooter who crashed into Lafont’s bar… in the 71st minute.