Valenciennes FC – SC Bastia 2-2 (1-1)
Hainaut Stadium
Referee: Aurelien Petit
But :
Grbic 25′ and 48′ for VAFC
Magri 4′ and 68′ for Bastia
Warnings: Debuchy 15′, Linguet 30′ Picouleau 78′
VAFC ; Bajjc, Linguet, Debuchy, Buatu, Lecoeuche, Boutoutaou (Bonnet 86′), Diliberto, Masson (Berthomier 72′), Hamache (Seghir 72′), Picouleau, Gribic
SC Bastia ; Placide, Palun (Bonhert 67′), Ndiaye, Guidi, Van Den Kerkhof, Ducrocq, Salles-Lamonge (Santelli 67′), Kaiboue (Roncaglia 91′), Vincent, Magri, Djoco (Alfarela 84′)
The Bastiais who obtained their maintenance from the 26th day and started a new championship this Saturday evening in Valenciennes, 5th in the standings, 6 points from Bordeaux second in the championship, at kick-off, the Bastiais had the opportunity to look towards the high trying to finish as high as possible.
As Kevin Van Den Kerkhof said in a pre-match press conference, the centerpiece of the Bastia team, the next 4 meetings were going to be crucial for the outcome of the championship, the first complicated meeting this Saturday against a northern team lacking in confidence, but despite everything undefeated at home, the objective therefore for the blues was to put an end to the invincibility of this team.
From the kick-off, the blues went to attack the cages guarded by Bajic. From the 4th minute Van Den Kerkhof, again, distinguished himself once again with an overflow on the right flank before serving wonderfully Magri at the near post who scored his 5th goal of the season, on the 5th assist of Van Den Kerkhof. The locals replied five minutes later, but the northern attacker was in an illicit position. A little scare in this very interesting start to the match from the turchini. The Bastians came close to doubling the lead just after the first quarter of an hour, Debuchy behind Franck Magri received the first yellow card of the match, Kaiboue took charge of the set piece and found Guidi at the far post, his head hit the crossbar before heading out of goal. Unfortunately the blues were caught in the score in the 25th minute on a pass with success from Boutoutaou, Grbic was the quickest in front of Palun and put the two teams tied on an avoidable loss of ball near the surface at the start of the action. The blues could have obtained a penalty after half an hour of play on a foul by Linguet, already warned, which stopped Kaiboue in the area, but Aurelien Petit, referee of the meeting, remained unmoved.
At the break the two formations left back to back.
Returning from the locker room, the visitors doubled the bet on a foul that could also have been avoided, Grbic scored twice on a free kick struck directly where Placide missed a little. Djoco, all in power, tried to put his people back on par but his off-center shot was pushed back. Magri tried his luck a few minutes later, launched by Salles-Lamonge in depth he stumbled on Bajic. Régis Brouard’s men insisted on equalizing at best against a team grouped behind. Djoco and Magri multiplied the offensives.
Offensive and profitable changes
Santelli came in and immediately provided an assist for Magri after some good work from Djoco. The Bastiais equalized but they wanted more and continued to insist on getting the three points. Magri got a golden chance at 83′ on a good combination with Santelli, but the Bastia striker lacked precision on this shot which could have changed the game again. A rhythmic end to the match where the locals tried their luck against. The two formations had their chance in turn at the end of the meeting but the defenses repelled the danger. Alfarela, who entered at the end of the game, eliminated Debuchy and followed up with a powerful shot but which flew over Bajic’s cages, on the last chance of the game.
The Bastiais conceded a draw, a few avoidable errors paid in cash, and a slight lack of accuracy in the last gesture, the blues let slip two points in the race for the climb that the turchini can play. Despite a good second period with character and rhythm, the blues neutralized themselves with their evening opponent and brought back the point of zero for this northern trip. Régis Brouard’s men continue their march forward and their good season, next meeting with a new trip to the lawn of Paris FC next Saturday for the turchini still 5th in the standings.
