Ligue 2: Winner of Niort (2-0), Paris FC continues to get closer to L1

This is becoming a fine tradition at the Charléty stadium. The Paris FC players gather in front of their two kops before asking for silence, then singing with them to celebrate the victory in a joyous scrum. Before this match against Niort, they were faced with an unusual situation. On entering Charléty’s lawn, they knew the results of their pursuers (defeat of AC Ajaccio during the Corsica derby against Bastia and Sochaux’s 3-2 against Auxerre) and therefore knew that they had the possibility of make a big hit if you win. Faced with an opponent Niort who has never succeeded in the past (see figure), the match nevertheless smelled like a trap. But Paris FC did not fail. Without being brilliant, he provided the essentials with this 16th consecutive match without defeat (2-0). In the standings, the operation is good since the Parisians, 2nd, come back to two points behind leader Toulouse, and push Auxerre (3rd) and AC Ajaccio (4th) to four points. A beautiful evening. Only downside, the physical condition of this group which has again lost an important player (Morgan Guilavogui) before a week with two games (Nancy on Tuesday, Pau next Saturday).

What you must remember

A valuable success at the accounting level but Paris FC suffered. During the first minutes, we often have Thierry Laurey making leaps of spite along his bench. Contracted, his players are unable to put the rhythm and stammer their game. But on a good recovery from Morgan Guilavogui, Khalid Boutaïb takes the ball, turns around but finds the post (24th). Guilavogui is still at the origin of the other offensive movements (27th, 34th) but he has to leave on injury (38th).

This week, he had been spared (adductors) and has been evolving on a thread since his return from the CAN. In an already decimated offensive sector (Gueye, Alfarela, Caddy absent, Gory diminished and remained on the bench), his injury constitutes a new annoyance for the staff. Yoann Beaka, 18, who had already entered Nîmes last Saturday (1-1), is making his second appearance in Ligue 2. During additional time, he is the one who deflects for Boutaïb, hanging in the area. Moustapha Name transforms the penalty in two stages after a first save from Michel, the Niort goalkeeper (1-0, 45th + 2). Paris FC is doing very well in this first period.

While the coach of Niort, Sébastien Desabre was excluded for dispute, the Parisians, still imprecise, still border on the correctional from the resumption on a strike from Cassubie (52nd). But on a corner, Ousmane Kanté pushes the ball into the net after a mess (2-0, 66th). Paris FC, solid and efficient, can breathe and control the end of the match against Niortais who concede a 6th loss in a row (the 5th without scoring). Ten days from the end, it’s starting to smell more and more good…

Player: Jonathan Iglesias

In this complicated match, Paris FC was able to count on a very valuable Jonathan Iglesias in midfield. The former captain of Clermont recovered many balloons. He also showed his ability to adapt and his versatility. He indeed started in the axis before moving to eccentric right after the exit on injury of Morgan Guilavogui (38th) before finishing the match on the left when Julien Lopez was replaced (73rd).

The number: 8

Paris FC remained on eight games without a win in L2 against Niort (4 losses, 4 draws). Since his rise in L2 in 2015, he had never managed to beat the Niortais at the Charléty stadium. He finally managed to break this bad series against this team which could be considered his pet peeve in L2.

The reaction

“We are relieved because it is a match that we feared. On the way there, we had taken a lesson in realism. We are well aware that it was not the match of the year. In my chat, I told the players that they had to forget the afternoon’s results, concentrate and get to the point. There are times of the year when you’re not well like tonight, it’s important to win matches like this, hard. Of course, we hope to perform better but tonight we did what we had to do against this team. We didn’t take the game the right way and we were very successful in opening the scoring just before the break. We didn’t necessarily deserve it, but there are evenings when things turn on the right side. Afterwards, we lose Morgan, it’s not trivial. I had to fire Yoann Beaka who was playing in U19 a month and a half ago. This is express service in L2. He took it well. I am very happy with his game. I couldn’t use Gory because he was on a tightrope and I preferred to preserve him. We have a lot of injuries, it’s not a disaster because it manages to pass. But over time, it can be complicated. » Thierry Laurey, coach of Paris FC.