Soccer. The realism of AG Caen makes the difference against Cherbourg
By Bernard Guyonnet
Published on
Engaged in an epic struggle last season to avoid the descent to R1, AG Caen and Cherbourg had a rather favored start to the championship. Two victories in two games for the Cherbourgeois and a victory in their only disputed meeting for the Caennais.
A but came very early
Thanks to a magnificent header from Jules Huet on the first corner of the game, Olivier Meurillon’s men made their task easier. They then decided to wait for their opponents to try to surprise them on the counterattack. The tactic turned out to be quite risky but paid off because Manchois were clumsy or unlucky in front of Wilfried Bedfian’s goal.
However, it took a desperate tackle from Léon Valentin to remove a goal ball from Arona Thioune (20th) then on the next corner it was the crossbar that came to the aid of the Caennais by returning a shot from Gomes Romanelli. Sometimes using and abusing the long game, the AGC allows his opponents to recover ammunition and regain confidence.
The best opportunity of this first period was offered to Cherbourg following a pass from Wilfried Bedfian to Jules Huet blocked by Arona Thioune but the twirling ASC striker stumbled on the Caen goalkeeper well out. More possession and more chances for the Cotentin players but it was the Avant Garde who took the lead at the break.
AG Caen has the art of counter
In the second half, the visitors would never regain their momentum from the first period. After a quarter of an hour of fairly balanced play, the match would definitely favor the advantage of Léon Valentin’s teammates. It was first of all Kévin Goba, a surface fox, who was the quickest to catapult into the net a shot from Morgan Hardoin repelled by Victor Pelleray. The red card received by Abdou Diabaté (65th) then removed all suspense at the end of the match. At 10, Cherbourg continues to push its offensives but suffers two deadly counters (Malcom Perian and Youssef Khedir) in the last 5 minutes which give the score a flattering scale for the AGC.
The goals :
– Jules Huet (4th) header at the far post following a superb release
– Kevin Goba (58th) recovers at close range a ball returned by Victor Pelleray following a cross shot from Morhan Hardouin
– Malcom Perian (84th) Kévin Gova counterfixes the last defender and opens a boulevard for his partner who ends the action with a ball in the small net
– Youssef Khadir launched in depth, he takes advantage of a miss from his direct opponent and ends his action with a magnificent curling shot
Olivier Meurillon’s reaction:
“It’s a great operation from an accounting point of view. We score goals, we don’t concede and we continue our unbeaten streak. It’s the start of the championship that we wanted and it’s the reward for the work we’ve been doing for 9 weeks. The players are attentive, disciplined and adhere to the game plan. Of course, the but we score in the first 5 minutes changes the game. We agreed to suffer to play against. My leitmotif is to have a team that is difficult for the opponents to play and capable of scoring at any time. So far it is…”
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