The ESA Linas/Montlhéry players will try to string together a second straight win at home next Saturday against Alençon. ©AF
The Blood and Gold team got their season off to a perfect start by winning at home against Borgo on Saturday evening thanks to a goal from Damien Mayaya at the end of the match (2-1).
THE MATCH
For their first outing of the season, ESA Linas/Montlhéry had a lot to do on Saturday evening. Facing FC Borgo, relegated from N2, the Blood and Gold had a difficult first half during which they were behind on the scoreboard. A goal scored by Enzo Pinochi at the end of a collective move on which the Essonne defense was very passive (0-1, 13th). The Corsican striker and his clone, Francescu Barboni, — although smaller but also equipped with a ponytail — were very active, taking advantage of the slightest lost balls to cause danger in front of Ivan Velandia Hoyos’ goal. The new ESALM goalkeeper, however, had very few balls to stop, except for a long-range shot from Pinochi (43rd) before the break. The two teams were then back to back because Jorris Romil, another recruit of the off-season, had equalized on penalty twenty minutes earlier (1-1, 25th) after Nengoue had hooked Alexandre Séné’s jersey in the area. A godsend for the Essonnens who struggled offensively. Only Fukidi (7th) and Mayaya (45th) had tried to make the difference from afar. In vain.
Change of physiognomy in the second period. Linas/Montlhéry shifts into second gear while the stormy showers have given way to a beautiful rainbow. A sign? Séné thinks he has given the Blood and Gold the advantage but his goal is disallowed for offside. The attacker had been served by Romil who had inherited a ball pushed back by the Corsican goalkeeper following a shot from Bire (61st).
The match then fell into a false rhythm until the public came out of their torpor on a counter-attack by the visitors. Damien Mayaya recovered the ball at the cost of a fine defensive comeback. The young (21 years old) Essonne striker continued his effort, alerting Salah Bekhadda on the left side who passed it to him. He then served Séné on the right side who offered him a caviar cross back. Mayaya then sent a fine strike which ended up in the back of the Corsican net and brought the entire stand of the Paul-Desgouillons stadium to its feet (2-1). At the start and end of the action which gave victory to Linas, the former resident of Le Havre was celebrated as he should be in the Linas/Montlhéry locker room to the Afro pop tune of Jungeli, “Petit génie” “”. The season of the Blood and Gold could not have started better.
Aymeric Fourel
THE REACTIONS
Stéphane Cabrelli (Linas/Montlhéry coach): « We were a little afraid of this first match because we were missing quite a few players, notably our top scorer from last season, Sandy Nzuzi, Youssouf Djiba, Adrien Fleury and Jean-Noël Gabriel. They will be injured during the preparation like Yann Mvita and Salah Bekhedda who were on the bench. We came up against a good Borgo team who dropped their pace after the break. Conversely, we were tense in the first half before playing more freely in the second. We were better technically but we knew how to go for the victory. So we can win with so many injured players. That’s positive. »
Damien Mayaya (Linas/Montlhéry forward): « You should never give up. On the counterattack, I saw that we were in difficulty. I sacrificed myself to go and defend. I recovered the ball and then it went well… »
THE TECHNICAL SHEET
LINAS/MONTLHERY – BORGO : 2-1 (1-1). Referee: Mr. Lungeri. Spectators: Approximately 300.
Buts : Romil (25th, sp), Mayaya (88th) for Linas; Pinochi (13th) for Borgo.
Warnings: Bire (30th), Doucouré (90th+2) at Linas; Jourda (41st), Collovigh (89th) at Borgo.
Linas/Montlhéry: Velandia Hoyos – Correïa (Mvita, 84e), Doucouré (cap.), Diallo, Skolski – Bire (Maindron, 62e), Fukidi – Séné, Admi (Legentil, 84e), Mayaya – Romil (Bekhadda, 75e). Entr. Cabrelli.
Borgo : Garrido – Doumbia, Mohamed, Jourda, Nengoue – Rocchi (ch.), Valéry (Diarrassouba, 60e), Moralès, Saïd – Pinochi (Collovigh, 79e), Barboni (Dia, 79e). Entr. : Rossini.
