[J20] VAFC – Guingamp: tops and flops

Despite a good start to the match, the VAFC once again failed to keep its advantage against a struggling opponent. A meeting marked by a vibrant tribute to Bruno Plumecocq. Here are our tops and flops of this Valenciennes – Guingamp.

Tops

A relatively good first period

From the start, the Valenciennois were dangerous by Ilyès Hamache, who sent a first thrill in the (somewhat deserted) spans of Hainaut (6 ′). Sambou Yatabaré was also close to opening the scoring following a good cross from Dos Santos, but without success (13 ‘). The Valencian domination in the game will be materialized by the first goal of the season from Emmanuel Ntim, who with a powerful header takes over the corner from Gaëtan Robail (21 ′). This same Robail could have doubled the bet a few moments later, but his left strike was close to the amount of Basilio (29 ′). Opposite, no real Guingampaise reaction. Valenciennes leads, and the score does not suffer from any dispute.

A touching tribute to Bruno Plumecocq

Before the kick-off of this twentieth day of Ligue 2 BKT, the entire Hainaut stadium paid tribute to a great man from the VAFC, Bruno Plumecocq, who had died of illness a few days earlier. Director of the training center since 2019, he has devoted his entire life to football, a sport that binds us all. Several banners were displayed in the stands by Valenciennes supporters. The players also made a man with a “Thank you Bruno” banner.

The flops

A missed second half

While the first act legitimately left hope for a victory against the Bretons, the second half in Valencia leaves much to be desired. Frantzdy Pierrot will be dangerous three times in a few minutes, he who was however invisible in the first act. Even if they have much less the ball, the Northerners hold the score, until the fateful moment. Saturnin Allagbé misses his exit from a corner, the ball goes towards the empty goal, it is at this moment that Mathieu Debuchy slams the ball with his hand, à la Luis Suarez, to prevent it from entering. Double logical penalty, red card and penalty. This will be transformed by Pierrot, very happy to house the Valenciennes public. At ten, VA will be content to defend the point of a draw at the end of the match. An annoying result, which shows the limits of the VAFC, and its inability to kill matches.

Inconclusive return for Allagbé

Back in goal after four months without playing, taking advantage of the cases of Covid in the Valencian workforce, Saturnin Allagbé had a golden opportunity to redeem himself from his missed start to the season. It is not so. Not reassuring in his interventions, succeeding fourteen assists on the thirty-one balloons he had to negotiate, the Beninese did not score a lot of points yesterday against Guingamp. His completely missed exit from a corner cost Valenciennes a goal, causing the red card against Mathieu Debuchy.