le match nul

By: Christophe | March 22nd, 2009

SRFC hopes for a victory against Valenciennes ended in a unsatisfying nil draw as both sides ended up playing with ten men. The match commenced with M. Lacombe’s side looking focused and came close to finding the net at the eighth minute as Jérôme Leroy’ corner is redirected by Mickaël Pagis towards the net before being saved. While falling short of scoring, slowly les Bretons imposed their will and gradually picked apart Valenciennes. However any plans that SRFC had for the match took an abrupt turn as Kader Mangane is expelled at the twenty-fourth minute for a bone chilling tackle on Jonathan Lacourt, that caused a broken leg. Due to this, Elderson Echiéjilé is brought in with Mickaël Pagis’ day ending and the formation is juggled to suit the man disadvantage. Despite being a man down the next realistic scoring chance comes ten minutes before the break by Rennais as Nicolas Douchez launches a counter with Olivier Thomert heading the ball on to Jimmy Briand but the strikers effort is saved by Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau. Tension is running thick in the match with SRFC complaining to the referee, Monsieur Falcone on a number of alleged missed calls. After the restart the crispness of the tackles continue and just before the hour Carlos Sánchez is red-carded for a poor challenge of Stéphane Mbia. With the man advantage removed, Rennais looks for the much needed goal and a few minutes past the hour Olivier Thomert could not capitalize on being free in on Penneteau via Jérôme Leroy’s well weighted provision. Throughout the final twenty minutes SRFC control possession of the ball but the visitors are unrelenting and the match ends without a score.