Weighed down by a calamitous start, Monaco lost to Portel
The defeat of the French team in the final of the Football World Cup, which also caused the delay of the meeting between Le Portel and Monaco by a few minutes, has it had its effect on the Monegasques? The 22-0 conceded by the Roca Team at the start of the game, against the red lantern, above all suggested the level of sufficiency with which the leader of Betclic Élite had suggested the evening.
A destitute ename – which made coach Sasa Obradovic mad with rage – that the Roca Team almost filled: returned to three possessions at halftime (49-41, 20th), Mike James (20 points to 7 out of 19 in shooting) and his family took the lead in the first half of the third act (54-55, 25th). A takeover that then suggested that the trend was reversed. What the young Nadir Hifi (20), stunningly mature (26 points at 9 of 14, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) refuted, helped by Emmanuel Nzekwessi (27 points, his personal best this season, 7 rebounds).
After taking control fairly quickly, the ESSM no longer let go of its advantage, even regaining a lead of up to 10 points (84-74) at the start of money-time. Faced with the precipitation of the Monegasques, the patience of the Pas-de-Calaisiens was finally rewarded with a second consecutive victory in the Championship, even more prestigious than the success obtained nine days earlier, at home again, against Cholet (86-71) , current dolphin of Monaco. At the final whistle, James and Obradovic showed themselves upset against the refereeing, the first suspecting the physical treatment that was reserved for him throughout the game.
37%
Monaco only scored 37% of their shots on Sunday night (27 out of 73). The Monegasques especially posted a very small 21.9% at three points (7 out of 32). Le Portel returned 29 shoots out of 56 (51.8%).
If the result is of no consequence in the general classification for the ASM, which keeps the lead, it offers the possibility to the winner of the duel disputed between Boulogne-Levallois and Cholet on Friday to return to the height as we approach mid-season. For Le Portel, this fourth success of the season allows them to take off from last place, left to Pau-Orthez, who share the same record (4v-9d). Paris and Fos-sur-Mer are also at four wins and can consider themselves threatened by a formation which in two outings has shown that it was not always in its place in the depths of the classification.