Nîmes Olympique: a victory and a third preparation match controlled against Istres (3-1)

À l’essai quinze jours, l’attaquant nîmois Bastian Badu, qui s’élève ici dans les airs, s’est montré plutôt intéressant en première période, avant d’être remplacé à la pause. MIDI LIBRE – ALEXIS BETHUNE

This Wednesday, July 24, in Redessan, the Crocos, attractive overall, won their third preparation match in as many matches, winning (3-1) against Istres, promoted to National 2. Encouraging.

You should not arrive late at the Gérard Moni stadium in Redessan, late Wednesday afternoon, for the friendly match between Nîmes Olympique (National) in Istres (National 2). The Crocos were surprised from the start of the match with a goal from Istréen Touré, taking advantage of an inattentive error from the NO rearguard to deceive the Masse goalkeeper (0-1, 3rd).

With this quick opening score, Adil Hermach's men conceded their first goal in a preparation match, after two successes with the same score (2-0), against Toulon (N2) and OM ( L1). Stunned for a few seconds, the Nîmes put their foot on the ball and Lemaangr, alone facing Boukhit, the leather on the Marseille goalkeeper, came out promptly (5th).

#football Les joueurs de @nimesolympique viennent d’arriver à Redessan, au stade Gérard-Moni. Troisième match de préparation face à Istres (N2). pic.twitter.com/TuA4koZX6R

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) July 24, 2024

Mass reflex shutdown

Three minutes later, the same Lemaangr, rather active in this relay position in the midfield, this time crushed his recovery, which benefited Badu, a trial attacker, who  nbsp;found on his route again Boukhit, former porter of Marignane inspired (8th).

After ten minutes, nothing more to report, other than a mastery of the Nîmes ball, until the 20th. Minute chosen by Gard defender Diouf to play it ''too easy''. He had the ball poked in his feet by Madi but the former Croco, from 40 meters away, did not get his shot on target, Masse, too advanced, being beaten (22nd).

A Nîmes goalkeeper called upon again ten minutes later and author of a reflex parade on his line on a powerful header from the Provençal defender Renaut, also a former member of the NO house (32nd ).

Picouleau's jewel

Just before the break, the 11th in the National last season caught up with the score against a promoted Istres side that was suffering more and more. A wonderful free-kick wrapped from the left by Picouleau, captain in the first half, lodged in the side netting of a Boukhit who was a little too short, the ball going around the wall (1-1, 40th).

A deserved equaliser for Nîmes who were on the verge of taking the lead a few minutes later. Lemaangr put a ball on Bounaoune's head, who crossed his attempt too much (43rd).

At the start of the second half, with an attacking line where Nagoukoutou had replaced Badu up front, Nîmes obtained a penalty, El Hamri's shot being blocked with the arm by an Istres defender. Thoumin took charge of the penalty, deceived the Istres goalkeeper Veies and put the Crocos ahead on the scoreboard (2-1, 50th).

Laurens stirring and bleeding

The ''Red and White'' worsened the score eight minutes later, still from the penalty spot. This time, he was pulled by Laurens who also wrong-footed the Istrian goalkeeper (3-1, 58th). This same Laurens was not far from offering himself a double, three minutes later, his recovery crashing on the cross (63rd). Served by Ngakoutou, who went on the edge of offside and perhaps too altruistic at the time, Laurens then hit his shot, with his wrong foot, the right, strike blocked by the Provençal defense (66th).

During the last twenty minutes, the pace dropped a notch, the organizations being started on both sides despite the waltz of changes made, as agreed, by the Gard coach Adil Hermach (60th). Nothing more, moreover, was scored, despite a powerful free kick from the left-handed Benedict, stopped on the ground by Veies (73rd).

Third victory in as many outings for the Nîmes. "Satisfactory and encouraging, reacted the crocodile coach Adil Hermach. We see good things, we confirm. This allows you to work peacefully." Next meeting, Saturday July 27, in Mallemort, facing Aubagne, promoted to National.

TECHNICAL SHEET

NÎMES (N): 3

ISTRES (N2): 1

Redessan, Gérard Moni stadium.

Referee: M. Chamel.

Half-time: 1-1.

Goals for Nîmes: Picouleau (38th), Thoumin (50th on pen.), Laurens (58th).< /p>

Goal for Istres: Touré (3rd).

NÎMES (1st half): Mass – Sbaï, Diouf, Iafrate, Diallo – Lemaangr, Picouleau, Bouaoune – Marcel (El Hamri, 32nd), Badu, Amara (Thoumin, 32nd).

NÎMES (2nd half): Cozzella – Sbaï (Labonne, 60th), Diouf (Mendy, 60th), Diallo (Paviot, 60th), Beneddine – Delpech, Akkal, Laurens – El Hamri (Camara, 60th), Ngakoutou, Thoumin (Khalid, 60th).