“Why ASNL’s Penalty Woes Could Be Costing Them Vital Points in National”

“If Christopher Columbus hadn’t discovered anything, Kennedy would still be alive,” joked Francis Blanche. Well if the ASNL knew how to take penalties, it would probably be saved by now. Since the start of the season, the Nancy have indeed benefited from six faults in the opposing area. They only withdrew from it… two goals! With 33% success in an exercise where the average rate generally exceeds 75%, Nancy obviously has the dunce cap in National. While in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, the dunces (Nantes and Rodez, with 2 failures each in 5 attempts) do not drop below 60% success.

This season, Nancy has dropped two points in mid-August in Orléans (0-0, penalty from Cissé pushed back by the goalkeeper in the 90th minute), then two more end of April in Saint-Brieuc (0-0, penalty from Nangis on the post in the 60th), and finally three Fridays against Le Puy (1-2, Sakho penalty stopped in the 38th and Mouazan on the post in the 71st). Do the accounts!

Who should have shot against Le Puy?

Facing Ponots already relegated, and under the eyes of a stadium that we had not seen so bubbling for ages, Nancy benefited from two penalties during the same match, a first since March 2021 and a big victory at Troyes in Ligue 2 (5-1). He didn’t convert any. While no hierarchy really emerged in the exercise, Diafra Sakho took responsibility for the first. His experience spoke for him, but his recurring physical problems, which make him consider ending his career , should have encouraged him to give way to another shooter. But who ? Among the natural suitors, Neil El Aynaoui had just suffered the fault.

And it is never good to take the law into your own hands, as evidenced by the failure of Lamine Cissé at Saint-Brieuc… Thomas Robinet? He was on the bench. Lenny Nangis? His laborious start to the match did not really plead for him. Baptist Mouazan? He grabbed the ball when hitting the second, but saw his attempt crash into the post, after an unprofessional run-up that ended with a Bruno Fernandes-style goat jump… Not really the moment.

While it no longer has its destiny in hand, the ASNL will have to count on a combination of favorable results on Friday to renew its lease in National. But above all, it will be necessary to win at Bourg-en-Bresse. Thanks to a penalty? The Bressans have conceded seven this season… for seven goals conceded.