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Ligue 1 Round-Up: Montpellier Step-Up Title Challenge
On an evening that produced mixed fortunes for the European hopefuls, AJA were the big losers, hammered away to basement club GF38.
Feb 6, 2010 2:50:00 PM
By Robin Bairner
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Boulogne-Sur-Mer 0-2 Montpellier
Grenoble Foot38 5-0 Auxerre
Racing Club de Lens 2-1 Le Mans
Nice 1-1 Lille
Paris Saint-Germain 0-3 Lorient (report)
Sochaux 1-1 Nancy
Stade Rennais L-L Girondins de Bordeaux
Grenoble Foot38 5-0 Auxerre
Bottom club Grenoble utterly embarrassed European chasing Auxerre with an emphatic victory at the Stade des Alpes on Saturday evening.
GF38 have been renowned as sluggish starters this term, but there was nothing poor about their opening ten minute salvo as they pushed two goals ahead almost immediately. On seven minutes the previously confidence-shy Danijel Ljuboja powered the hosts into the ascendancy before Nassim Akrour converted a Daisuke Matsui cross with their next attack to complete a classy team move.
Never have things been simply for Mecha Bazdarevic’s side this season, so it was no surprise AJA briefly threatened to come back, with Ireneusz Jelen thwarted on the goal-line by Jean Calve.
This was finally to be Grenoble’s night, and in some style too. Brilliant skill from Ljuboja carried him away from a posse of visiting players as he broke into the box, allowing him to centre for the utterly unmarked Matsui to simply head home. Four minutes later Auxerre were further red faced, with Akrour the beneficiary of a clever header from Nicolas Dieuze after a Martial Robin cross, hammering the ball home in acrobatic style.
Grenoble grabbed their fifth goal seven minutes into the second half in bizarre circumstances. A patient build up culminated in Matsui breaking into the box and though Stephane Grichting tried to clear, the ball hammered off the Japanese and into the net.
A powerful effort from Benoit Pedretti might have pulled a goal back but Jody Viviani saved well, allowing him the personal achievement of a clean sheet on a cathartic evening for the ailing side.
Racing Club de Lens 2-1 Le Mans
If there were any lingers fears of relegation in the Lens camp, they must now have dissipated after victory over Le Mans.
Early gymnastics from Ahmen Abdi, who did his utmost to convert an Olivier Thomert centre, proved to be MUC’s best chance of the opening period as les Sang et Or took hold. Though the hosts controlled the ball, only a handful of efforts really caused the guests worry.
Sebastien Roudet shot straight at Didier Ovono and Kanga Akale wasted a glorious opening before the breakthrough was made. A brief scramble in the box that was instigated by Henri Bedimo’s cross resulted in Eduardo laying the ball back to Kevin Monnet-Pacquet, who drilled low and into the net.
Monnet-Pacquet might have had a second before the break but instead it was Eduardo who scored soon after the restart. A fine pass from Sebastien Roudet picked the Brazilian out, allowing him to run free and score.
Le Mans actually came back into the game to some extent but were largely toothless in attack aside from a Thorstein Helstad effort that was turned away by Vedran Runje. Meanwhile, Eduaro and Akale threatened when Lens pushed forward as the hosts closed out another commendable win.
There would be a late scare for the hosts, with Modibo Maiga’s shot somehow finding the net despite the best efforts of Bodimo and Vedran Runje. Lens would hold on with no further issues.
Nice 1-1 Lille
Nice put their recent troubles behind them to some extent by tripping up Lille’s title campaign a little more.
LOSC made a positive start to the match, largely dominating possession but not necessarily achieving a great deal with it. Les Aiglons, who had come into the game a little more after the ten minute mark, would be the side to open the scoring. A long centre from Loic Remy was only half headed away, allowing Chaouki Ben Saada to converted and give the hosts a shock lead.
After a bright performance in Monaco last weekend Nice seemed determined to impress and restricted the efforts of their opponents well. Indeed, goalkeeper Lionel Letizi was only called into serious action on two occasions, making a brace of good saves from Pierre-Alain Frau and Eden Hazard in quick succession.
Lille were far from their most free-flowing for the duration of the game but levelled matters on 74 minutes as the unmarked Tulio de Melo headed home a free kick from Ludovic Obraniak.
Rudi Garcia’s men would press for a winning goal but it would not arrive.
Boulogne-Sur-Mer 0-2 Montpellier
Montpellier put the pressure on Bordeaux ahead of les Girondins’ late match in Rennes by defeating Boulogne in the north of France.
Immediately the pattern was set at the start of the match, with Boulogne only managing a touch of the ball in their opponents’ half after three minutes of play. Laurent Guyot’s side were impressive defensively though and restricted the attacking movements of their guests with organisation and numbers.
A handful of hopeful shots from distance never really threatened to trouble either custodian before la Paillade took the lead in spectacular style. A sweeping counterattack was led by Karim Ait Fana, though it was Cyril Jeunechamps‘ inviting delivery that was smashed into the net by Souleymane Camara.
USBCO’s resolute stance was not to be changed, though, and they continued to hold out well until the break. Following the restart there was a little more adventure to their play, with Juan Lorca sending a thunderbolt of a shot crashing over the top of the bar.
Ait Fana had an exciting run in the first minute of the second half finish by shooting straight at Jean-Francois Bedenik as much of their attacking threat continued to be well stifled.
Victor Hugo Montano did managed to make it two in stoppage time, feeding on the scraps after Younnes Belhanda’s tremendous work allowed him to fire a shot at goal that was repulsed by Bedenik.
With three points in the bag, MHSC are only three points short of leaders Bordeaux.
Sochaux 1-1 Nancy
A tight encounter between Sochaux and Nancy failed to produced a winner.
Ideye Brown had impressed in midweek for Sochaux, scoring twice against Le Mans, and was quickly in the mood on Saturday evening, shooting into the side netting from an inclement angle. Les Lionceaux would enjoy a good spell of possession but really lacked punch, while Nancy would look more threatening when they broke.
On 29 minutes a cheeky dink from Julien Feret hit the bar, but that only delayed Nancy’s opening goal briefly. When Issiar Dia collected the ball in the box, he let rip, finding the top corner of the net.
Meanwhile, Feret’s luck was out as he sent another shot off the framework of the goal, this time a free kick.
Seven minutes after the break the scores were level, though Sochaux’s goal was somewhat unorthodox, with Stephane Dalmat turning the ball into the net with his knee after Brown drove an effort across the face of goal.
Youssouf Hadji had a fairly quiet evening but volleyed narrowly wide as ASNL tried to regain the advantage, while Sochaux’s riposte was a Brown shot that flew wide – the final efforts of a disappointing second half.
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Boulogne-Sur-Mer 0-2 Montpellier
Grenoble Foot38 5-0 Auxerre
Racing Club de Lens 2-1 Le Mans
Nice 1-1 Lille
Paris Saint-Germain 0-3 Lorient (report)
Sochaux 1-1 Nancy
Stade Rennais L-L Girondins de Bordeaux
Grenoble Foot38 5-0 Auxerre
Bottom club Grenoble utterly embarrassed European chasing Auxerre with an emphatic victory at the Stade des Alpes on Saturday evening.
GF38 have been renowned as sluggish starters this term, but there was nothing poor about their opening ten minute salvo as they pushed two goals ahead almost immediately. On seven minutes the previously confidence-shy Danijel Ljuboja powered the hosts into the ascendancy before Nassim Akrour converted a Daisuke Matsui cross with their next attack to complete a classy team move.
Never have things been simply for Mecha Bazdarevic’s side this season, so it was no surprise AJA briefly threatened to come back, with Ireneusz Jelen thwarted on the goal-line by Jean Calve.
This was finally to be Grenoble’s night, and in some style too. Brilliant skill from Ljuboja carried him away from a posse of visiting players as he broke into the box, allowing him to centre for the utterly unmarked Matsui to simply head home. Four minutes later Auxerre were further red faced, with Akrour the beneficiary of a clever header from Nicolas Dieuze after a Martial Robin cross, hammering the ball home in acrobatic style.
Grenoble grabbed their fifth goal seven minutes into the second half in bizarre circumstances. A patient build up culminated in Matsui breaking into the box and though Stephane Grichting tried to clear, the ball hammered off the Japanese and into the net.
A powerful effort from Benoit Pedretti might have pulled a goal back but Jody Viviani saved well, allowing him the personal achievement of a clean sheet on a cathartic evening for the ailing side.
Racing Club de Lens 2-1 Le Mans
If there were any lingers fears of relegation in the Lens camp, they must now have dissipated after victory over Le Mans.
Early gymnastics from Ahmen Abdi, who did his utmost to convert an Olivier Thomert centre, proved to be MUC’s best chance of the opening period as les Sang et Or took hold. Though the hosts controlled the ball, only a handful of efforts really caused the guests worry.
Sebastien Roudet shot straight at Didier Ovono and Kanga Akale wasted a glorious opening before the breakthrough was made. A brief scramble in the box that was instigated by Henri Bedimo’s cross resulted in Eduardo laying the ball back to Kevin Monnet-Pacquet, who drilled low and into the net.
Monnet-Pacquet might have had a second before the break but instead it was Eduardo who scored soon after the restart. A fine pass from Sebastien Roudet picked the Brazilian out, allowing him to run free and score.
Le Mans actually came back into the game to some extent but were largely toothless in attack aside from a Thorstein Helstad effort that was turned away by Vedran Runje. Meanwhile, Eduaro and Akale threatened when Lens pushed forward as the hosts closed out another commendable win.
There would be a late scare for the hosts, with Modibo Maiga’s shot somehow finding the net despite the best efforts of Bodimo and Vedran Runje. Lens would hold on with no further issues.
Nice 1-1 Lille
Nice put their recent troubles behind them to some extent by tripping up Lille’s title campaign a little more.
LOSC made a positive start to the match, largely dominating possession but not necessarily achieving a great deal with it. Les Aiglons, who had come into the game a little more after the ten minute mark, would be the side to open the scoring. A long centre from Loic Remy was only half headed away, allowing Chaouki Ben Saada to converted and give the hosts a shock lead.
After a bright performance in Monaco last weekend Nice seemed determined to impress and restricted the efforts of their opponents well. Indeed, goalkeeper Lionel Letizi was only called into serious action on two occasions, making a brace of good saves from Pierre-Alain Frau and Eden Hazard in quick succession.
Lille were far from their most free-flowing for the duration of the game but levelled matters on 74 minutes as the unmarked Tulio de Melo headed home a free kick from Ludovic Obraniak.
Rudi Garcia’s men would press for a winning goal but it would not arrive.
Boulogne-Sur-Mer 0-2 Montpellier
Montpellier put the pressure on Bordeaux ahead of les Girondins’ late match in Rennes by defeating Boulogne in the north of France.
Immediately the pattern was set at the start of the match, with Boulogne only managing a touch of the ball in their opponents’ half after three minutes of play. Laurent Guyot’s side were impressive defensively though and restricted the attacking movements of their guests with organisation and numbers.
A handful of hopeful shots from distance never really threatened to trouble either custodian before la Paillade took the lead in spectacular style. A sweeping counterattack was led by Karim Ait Fana, though it was Cyril Jeunechamps‘ inviting delivery that was smashed into the net by Souleymane Camara.
USBCO’s resolute stance was not to be changed, though, and they continued to hold out well until the break. Following the restart there was a little more adventure to their play, with Juan Lorca sending a thunderbolt of a shot crashing over the top of the bar.
Ait Fana had an exciting run in the first minute of the second half finish by shooting straight at Jean-Francois Bedenik as much of their attacking threat continued to be well stifled.
Victor Hugo Montano did managed to make it two in stoppage time, feeding on the scraps after Younnes Belhanda’s tremendous work allowed him to fire a shot at goal that was repulsed by Bedenik.
With three points in the bag, MHSC are only three points short of leaders Bordeaux.
Sochaux 1-1 Nancy
A tight encounter between Sochaux and Nancy failed to produced a winner.
Ideye Brown had impressed in midweek for Sochaux, scoring twice against Le Mans, and was quickly in the mood on Saturday evening, shooting into the side netting from an inclement angle. Les Lionceaux would enjoy a good spell of possession but really lacked punch, while Nancy would look more threatening when they broke.
On 29 minutes a cheeky dink from Julien Feret hit the bar, but that only delayed Nancy’s opening goal briefly. When Issiar Dia collected the ball in the box, he let rip, finding the top corner of the net.
Meanwhile, Feret’s luck was out as he sent another shot off the framework of the goal, this time a free kick.
Seven minutes after the break the scores were level, though Sochaux’s goal was somewhat unorthodox, with Stephane Dalmat turning the ball into the net with his knee after Brown drove an effort across the face of goal.
Youssouf Hadji had a fairly quiet evening but volleyed narrowly wide as ASNL tried to regain the advantage, while Sochaux’s riposte was a Brown shot that flew wide – the final efforts of a disappointing second half.
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