Covid-19 obliges, the multiplex of this Saturday evening was amputated by three meetings (Amiens-Ajaccio, Caen-Niort, Dunkerque-Paris FC). Auxerre temporarily back on the podium, Bastia leaves the red zone and precipitates Grenoble there. For some coaches, the cascade of absences, between covid-19 contaminations, injuries, suspensions and convocations to the CAN, made the mission impossible.
AJ Auxerre had ended 2021 more than frustrated with a home defeat against Le Havre (2-3), Jean-Marc Furlan’s men, despite being deprived of Pellenard, Jubal, Sinayoko, Hein and Sakhi, assumed their status as favorite on the lawn of Grenoble (1-0). Served by Autret, Gaëtan Charbonnier scores his 12th goal and returns to a unit of Toulousain Rhys Healey Grenoble thinks of equalizing in the second half but the goal is denied to Ravet, the assistant of Mr. Lepaysant being convinced that the ball was out before the center of Gaspar… A decision – questionable in view of the images – which should make a lot of talk. The Grenoble residents also claimed a red card against Georgen a little earlier, in vain. AJA returns to the podium, while waiting for Paris FC to catch up with their late match. On the Isère side, Vincent Hognon’s premiere took place… without Vincent Hognon, affected by covid-19. Despite the change of coach, the negative spiral does not stop this evening: fifth defeat in a row and 18th place for the GF38 at the end of the evening: the competitors in the maintenance have not been idle
Bad operation for Grenoble
In Bastia, the “Brouard effect” is confirmed. After a brilliant success in the Coupe de France against Clermont, the Corsican team dominates QRM (1-0) with a new achievement from Benjamin Santelli. On the Norman side, Fabien Mercadal’s premiere was not a gift. The successor to Bruno Irlès deplored nine absentees and to make matters worse, his two full-backs, Belkorchia then Lambèse, had to leave the field injured even before the 30th minute. Kaiboue seals the Corsican victory in the last quarter of an hour by transforming an offering from Le Cardinal then it is Talal who beats Lemaître (3-0).
Valenciennes also believed they had a breath of fresh air in the standings by winning against Guingamp: Ntim scored with a header from a corner. Note, the return of Saturnin Allagbé in the cage. The Beninese goalkeeper had not appeared on a match sheet since September 11, during the 7th day. Only, the Costa Ricans equalize thanks to Pierrot on a penalty after a voluntary hand on the line which is worth a logical red to Mathieu Debuchy (1-1).
At the Gaston-Gérard stadium, Dijon received Nîmes: two teams which are struggling to be reminded that they played in Ligue 1 last season. Handicapped by a dozen absences, the DFCO very quickly paid for evolving with a decimated defense, either for medical reasons or due to calls for the African Cup of Nations. Omarsson strikes in the axis, strikes and allows Eliasson to score from the 5th minute. The makeshift rearguard formed by Patrice Garande wasted no time in breaking down a second time. Free of any marking, Ponceau scored the goal of the break (31st). Hope is reborn for the DFCO with the red card received by Théo Sainte-Luce just before the break. The Burgundians reduce the gap thanks to Philippoteaux (56th) but will not come back further (1-2)
Higher up the table, Pau received Rodez for a duel between two great surprises in the first half of the championship. If the Palois are for the moment rather spared by the pandemic, this was not the case for the Ruthénois who had to call on their 3rd goalkeeper, Marc Vidal. The former Toulousain had not participated in a professional meeting since October 28, 2014. With the Violets, he had taken part in a match of the defunct Coupe de la Ligue against Bordeaux (1-3). He bows a little before the hour mark against Erwin Koffi, author of a big breakthrough in the middle of the axis. Nisic makes the break for Pau in stride by coming to punish a risky Aveyron revival. Rodez sinks late in the game : Assifuah serves Lobry as in training for the third goal then Naidji for the fourth.
Results and scorers:
Bastia-Quevilly Rouen: 3-0 (Santelli, Kaiboue, Talal)
Dijon-Nîmes: 1-2 (Philippoteaux / Eliasson, Ponceau)
Grenoble-Auxerre: 0-1 (Charbonnier)
Pau-Rodez: 4-0 (Koffi, Nisic, Lobry, Naidji)
Valenciennes-Guingamp: 1-1 (Ntim / Pierrot)
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