Narrow winner (3-2) of a formation from Niort who woke up too late, Nîmes heaved a big sigh of relief and left the last place to his evening loser, even scratching two (18th). A success that requires confirmation.
Maraval (5): A rather quiet start to the evening for the last rampart of the Gard. A harmless strike from Benchamma which he blocks easily (4th). On the other hand, nothing can be done on the full axis free kick, 20 meters away, from Boutobba on the Niort goal, rolled up from the left to perfection by the former player trained at OM (2-1, 31st). Not responsible, either, on the pure half-volley recovery from Benchamma which mystifies him (3-2, 63rd). Sweated at the end when he was saved by his left post on a spiked header from Olaitan (75th). Finished captain after leaving Tchokounté.
Guess (5): for his second tenure of the season as a right-back, after Le Havre, he above all assured defensively, apart from this badly negotiated recovery (26th) which ended in goal action for Niort. More enterprising in the first quarter of an hour of the second period before having to repel the attacks of Sagna, hitting on the side, at the end of the game.
De Gevigney (4) : was rigorous and disciplined in his interventions, clean and applied in his reminders … until Niort increased the pressure, on the hour mark. From then on, the former Versailles player was in much more difficulty . Beaten, in particular, in the duel by Sagna at the start of the action which leads to the reduction of the Niortaise score (3-2, 63rd).
Djiga (3) : undoubtedly the most complicated meeting for the Burkinabe since the start of the season. Does not appreciate a deep opening for the Niort striker Sagna who creates a goal opportunity that Maraval annihilates (8th). If he removes the ball in extremis from the foot of Boutobba (26th), is still hesitant in his intervention in front of the same Sagna, again not quick enough to deceive Maraval (42nd). Not better after the break, where we felt feverish.
Burner (4) : less prominent than in some matches, the former Niçois did the job, vigilant when necessary, also sometimes bringing his experience into play.
Said (5): had an interesting start to the match. East at the origin of the discount for Nguessan on the penalty obtained by the latter. Less dangerous thereafter, even gradually disappearing from the match. gave way to Woe (86e).
Lopy (5): arrived Wednesday in the Gard, he experienced his first tenure, three days later. Playing lower than Nguessan, the neo-croco regularly stalled, positioning himself between De Gevigney and Djiga and serving as the first raiser. The doublet he formed with Nguessan turned out to be quite complementary. Well physically, he lasted the 90 minutes.
Nguessan (5) : provokes the penalty, hooked by the defender of the Chamois Kilama, following a one-two in the surface with Saïd. Has projected himself more than Lopy, his fellow defensive midfielder, with whom he has already shown a certain complicity. A decent game.
Benezet (6) : much more in the legs than during his last outings, evidenced by this decisive pass well felt for Pagis on 2nd goal Nîmes (17th). Interesting for his technique on the left flank. Is also, negative point, faulty on the action resulting in the victorious free kick of Boutobba (31st), causing the initial fault. Replaced by Thomas (80e).
Paid (7) : the best Croco of the evening. It was therefore in his 14th Ligue 2 match with NO that the striker finally made the opposing nets tremble. And he will not have pretended, author of a double. First on a pass from Benezet where, arriving launched, he beat Michel, the Niort goalkeeper, from close (2-0, 17th). Then by creating the goal all by himself, author, from the angle of the surface on the right side, of a superb rolled up from the left small opposite net that Michel could only touch (3-1, 35th). His direct free kick would have ended in the skylight without Michel’s superb tap for a corner (54th).
Tchokounte (5): the captain of Nîmes, in the absence of Poulain, scored his 8th of the season, the 4th on penalty (1-0, 12th), showing the way to success for his training. Another big slaughter job at the forefront of the attack, weighing on the defense of the Chamois. Kone replaced him at the end of the match (87th).
