MHB – Saint-Raphaël: 13 goals difference, an iron defense, an excellent Hesham… Montpellier has brilliantly succeeded in its debut in Starligue

Hesham a ̩t̩ plus que bon vendredi soir, avec neuf buts inscrits. Midi Libre РJEAN MICHEL MART

Lors de la première journée de Starligue, le MHB a étrillé Saint-Raphaël (31-18) au FDI Stadium vendredi 6 septembre, avec un match complet de bout en bout.

Érick Mathé will have done better than Patrice Canayer…for his first match at the FDIStadium in the championship. 30 years ago, the Nîmes player won by seven goals against Bordeaux (27-20) in the old Palais des sports René-Bougnol.

Friday evening, his successor will have done better with this victory against a weak Raphaëlois relegated to 13 points and a class difference. Yes, this is more of an anecdote than a profound lesson, as the mark left on the MHB bench by Canayer is no longer to be commented on.

But Mathé's team starts the Starligue with a clear and flawless success, more than interesting in its content, while it shouts to whoever will listen that it will not be necessary to count on Paris and Nantes to play for the national title.

Read also:MHB – Saint-Raphaël: “It was a dream match to start with”, “It was only one match, there are 29 left”, post-match reactions

Mathé had to deal with the injured 

“I can only be satisfied with this match, Érick Mathé rejoiced afterwards. It was a very good performance, a lot of things worked. We know it's hard to play against Saint-Raphaël, we're not going to deny ourselves the pleasure." 

Especially since the new Montpellier coach had to deal with absences galore with, at choice: no right winger available (Lenne, Karlsson), another on the left wing (Pellas) and two center halves on the flank.

Hesham levitating

Since in addition to Skube, injured in the knee, Villeminot was affected by gastroenteritis on Friday. No matter, others were there and did the job very well in their place. Starting with the Egyptian Ahmed Hesham, man of the match with nine goals scored for only one failure (!).

The left back, injured last season in the knee, seems to have regained all his sensations and gave his former partner and goalkeeper at Usam Nîmes, Alexandre Demaille, a hard time. “It was a dream win to start with even though we didn't have much time to prepare. My match? It's okay, it's okay, it wasn't bad”, laughed the Pharaohs player.

Impeccable defense

The Montpellier defense was also in tune against the Varois, who were certainly weakened by the absences of Chema Rodriguez and Sergio Perez at the back. Around Karl Konan, who needs no introduction, and an excellent Arthur Lenne, Rémi Desbonnet twirled his whiskers against SRVHB's attempts with 12 saves during a perfect evening.

“It's a match… There are 29 left, Mathé wished to temper. I prefer to start the championship this way but what matters to me is what will happen afterwards."

Montpellier – Saint-Raphaël: 31-18

FDIStadium.
Half-time: 15-9.
Referees: M.Picot and R.Heddid.
Spectators: Approximately 2,500.
MONTPELLIER: Bolzinger (5 saves on 10 shots including 2/3 on penalties), Desbonnet (13/26 including 1/2 pen.). Dubois (2 goals on 3 shots dt 1/2), Simonet (3/4 including 1/1 on penalties), Cikusa (1/4), Hesham (9/10 including 1/1 pen.), Fernandez (1/1), A. Lenne (3/3), Prat (1/1), Konan, Guigon (1/2), Monte (4/8 including 0/1 pen.), (cap.) Porte (3/4), Terjek (1/2), Nacinovic (1/1).
Two minutes at: Simonet (2nd), Fernandez (20th, 38th).
SAINT-RAPHAËL: Da Rosa (4 saves on 13 shots including 2/4 on penalties), Demaille (7/28 dt 0/1 pen.). Lang (2/2), Mapu (1/2), Caïs (0/1), Colman (1/3), Bataille (2/6), Augustine, Caucheteux (4/6 dt 2/4 pen.), Kouadio (1/2), Vigneron, Goupillon, Sutter, (cap.) Marescot (3/4), Brasseleur (1/5), Paschal (3/8 dt 0/1 pen.).
Two minutes at: Bataille (5th, 47th), Colman (30th), Mapu (35th, 44th), Brasseleur (53rd), Augustine (56th).

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