HAC – Nîmes: 3 – 1 Sweet madness at Stade Océane!

Some will say that on Friday the 13th, anything is possible… Others that luck, the lucky star, a possible football god acted on the sly… Frankly? Even if all the Le Havre supporters felt overwhelmed with emotion when they experienced this reversal of the situation, carried by a feeling of pure madness, there is nothing irrational in this Ciel&Marine victory!

As there was nothing irrational in the fact that the HAC found itself led, in the 50th minute, by formidably organized, incisive Nîmes, and whose football absolutely did not reflect the classification. As there is nothing irrational in this hat-trick from Quentin Cornette, revengeful after a match against Sochaux in halftone, replacing entered in the 55th, scorer put in confidence in the 61st, and repeat offender in the 83rd, then at the 92nd! No, nothing irrational! But a completely exciting, delirious, extravagant ensemble! To appreciate, to feel, to live, quite simply! Because that’s what football is: a combination of tactical, technical and human factors, the variety of which can sometimes knock us out, but sometimes also, like tonight, carry us away.

Everyone knew that this match would be complicated: after having played, and won, against big names, the HAC was opposed to the penultimate. The kind of match where the underdog has, by definition, absolutely nothing to lose. From the start, the Nîmes made it felt, playing fast, fair, faulting a reshuffled Le Havre team, where El Hajjam, Richardson, Cornette, Thiaré had gone to sit on the bench, while Mbemba, Diakité, Mahmoud and Kitala appeared in the starting XI. And the people of Le Havre had trouble getting into the dense! The dense Nîmes block, which quickly launched its offensive arrows, including the powerful Koné which, with a return – fortunately not on target – planted a first banderilla (3rd). Shaken, the Ciel & Marines did not manage to approach Maraval’s goal, the first opportunity being signed by Mahmoud, who saw his beautiful curled shot deflected for a corner. No, the HAC was not there, Mathieu Gorgelin even having to be very vigilant in front of Saïd (12th) and Pagis (33rd). Mr. Lepaysant’s whistle punctuated probably the worst half-time for the Hacmens since the start of the season.

Even if the Ciel & Marines tried to pick up speed from the start of the second period, in particular through the very active Operi, the opener was from Nîmes (Fomba, 50th). The people of Le Havre had not conceded a goal since the twelfth day and the trip to Rodez… The necessary boost to the flanks of their pride? May be ! Still, they were moving forward. In the process, Quentin Cornette and Amir Richardson took over from Elies Mahmoud and Check-Oumar Diakité (55th). Six minutes later, Quentin Cornette was caught in the act: a capital strike signing the equalizer!

And we found the usual face of the HAC! Phenomenal self-sacrifice, lively, sharp… Then, what had to happen happened: score and stadium swung with the same momentum when, with a half-volley, Quentin Cornette pushed Maraval for a handball, the Gard goalkeeper seeing the ball bouncing behind his line. Without hesitation, the assistant referee signaled the goal! 2 to 1 in the 83rd! We did not know it yet, but this crazy end of the game reserved an additional lot of happiness: in the 92nd, on the reception of a ball from Antoine Joujou, 19, who had just signed his first entry into play with the pros. , Quentin Cornette armed a new shot and hit the mark, for the third time of the evening! Quentin Cornette, the “scoring” man of this night of sweet madness, of this final victory 3 goals to 1.

So, behind the emotions, there are the numbers. Hard, cold. A bit like when mathematics opposes literature! But these reconcile the two sensitivities, because they warm the heart! At the end of the first leg matches, the HAC is therefore leader with 42 points (maintained guaranteed!), Now having nine lengths ahead of its runner-up, Bordeaux, and eleven on Metz, current third, while waiting for the match Sochaux – Caen , played next week. Second attack (29 goals), the Hacmen also present a strong steel defense: 7 goals conceded. Twelve clean sheets. Breathtaking, right? After this observation, this ranking, there might be enough to lose your mind… An error that could ultimately lead to losing the championship! But we trust Luka Elsner and his men to maintain their course of action, as in each of these first legs. The return phase will begin in two weeks. Until then, enjoy, dream, live, watch this match over and over… and see you in Amiens on January 28 for other emotions!

O.D.

HAC – Nimes Olympique: 3-1 (0-0)
19th day of Ligue 2 BKT
Friday, January 13, 2023
Oceane Stadium

Referee: Mr. Lepaysant

Goals: for the HAC: Cornette (61st, 83rd, 90th + 2); for Nîmes: Fomba (50th)

Warnings: at HAC: Diakité (49th), Casimir (70th); in Nîmes: Fomba (58th), Benrahou (70th), Maraval (85th)

HAC: Gorgelin – Mbemba, Sangante, Lloris, Operi – Lekhal (cap), Diakité (Cornette, 56th), Kechta – Mahmoud (Richardson, 56th), Kitala (Thiaré, 65th), Casimir (Joujou, 81st)
Not entered: Koné, Kongolo, El Hajjam
Ent. : Lukas Elsner

NAMES: Maraval (cap) – Guessoum, De Gevigney, Djiga, Burner (Burner, 87th) – Vargas (Benezet, 87th), Fomba, Pagis (Benrahou, 65th), Nguessan, Saïd – Kone (Tchokounte, 77th).
Not entered: Dias, Poulain, Delpech
Ent. : Frederic Bompard