This Saturday, January 4, in a friendly match in Antonins, Nîmes Olympique had opportunities, as usual, but the worst attack of the National championship failed to find fault against Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, 4th in the Pool A in National 2 (0-0).
A week after resuming training and six days before challenging the leader Nancy in the National (Friday January 10, 7:30 p.m. in Antonins), Nîmes hosts Fréjus / Saint-Raphaël in a friend of the Antonins, behind closed doors.
About ten were absent
Otherwise it serves as a dress rehearsal for Lorraine’s reception, because WALA has too many absentees to be the official configuration of the match. The goalkeepers Simon (slightly ill, preserved) and Cozzella as well as the field players Mendy, Diouf, Doukansy, Picouleau, Lemaangr, Delpech and Amara (+ the starter Ali Abdallah) are absent. That’s about ten elements.
Adil Hermach’s younger brother, Marwane, is an interesting holder
Crocos started with Ichalalen as goalkeeper, Labonne, Iafrate, Paviot and Beneddine in defense; Marwane Hermach (19 years old), younger brother of the coach, Akkal, Mexico (captain) and Bouaoune in the middle; Marcel and Abdeldjelil in front. They largely dominated the first action against the 4th in Pool A in N2 but, for the most part, they were unable to find an opening.
Under the eyes of Michel Estevan
Under the eyes of Michel Estevan, coach of Varois last season, goalkeeper Mocio distinguished himself with 5 saves in 45 minutes: in a return corner from Beneddine (1st), against Abdeldjelil (3rd and 43rd) then Marcel (23rd and 26th).
The Gardois were also scared, because Iafrate, in the competition, was sent off, guilty of a mistake in the position of the last defender while Lakhamy was alone in the goal (27th)…
Opportunities galore… and a huge Var opportunity to counter
In the second period, Fréjus Saint-Raphaël completely changed its eleven, and NO struggled to pass the second. After a shot on target from the future Sbaï (49th), the game was balanced for about twenty minutes, before Gardois regained the upper hand … and the advantage in the number of chances.
Bouaoune had one (very broken strike, 65th), the Abdeldjelil-Marcel doublet was just short (66th) of a good cross from Beneddine (promoted captain after exiting from Mexico), the Camara’s goal with a header from a cross from Sbaï (73rd) was logically denied for offside, the returning eccentric free kick from El Hamri ended up on the crossbar (83rd), and that, well placed, from Khalid, deflected by Var substitute goalkeeper Bezzina (88th).
Against Nancy, it will probably score…
But it was almost the Riviera team that had the greatest opportunity: in a counterattack, center forward Barka found himself alone in front of Ichalalen but crossed his attempt at distance (80th). Against Nancy, that would undoubtedly score…