Nîmes Olympique: after the defeat (1-2) at the Antonins against Orléans, the Crocos' notes

Titularisé, Issam Bouaoune a montré un volume intéressant dans l’entrejeu. MIDI LIBRE – TOM SERRANO

Battus sur la fin par Orléans (1-2), les Crocos ont raté leur première sortie à la maison. Deuxième chance aux Antonins, vendredi prochain, face à Châteauroux.

Cozzella (6) : two actions perfectly sum up the qualities and faults of the Italian goalkeeper. As comfortable one-on-one as he is worrying in his kicking game. His missed clearance with his right foot (14th) is compensated for by his duel won, two minutes later (16th), against Khous. At the end of the match, the goalkeeper slips again but recovers in stride, winning his duel with El Khoumisti (90th). Beforehand, comes the reflex save on a close-range shot from the same El Khoumisti, six meters away (20th). Rarely worried in the second half… except on this victorious header from the poison El Khoumisti where, lobbed, his one meter ninety hardly helped him, lacking a jump (1-1, 75th). With five minutes to go, his dive at the near post was no match either, deceived by Khous' strike (1-2, 85th).

Sbaï (5): we found the Sbaï of last season, with overflowing activity in his right wing. His cross led to the first Nîmes goal of the season, by Abdeljelil (11th). As time went on, especially in the first half, the former Beaucairois suffered more, like the entire crocodile rearguard. Less struggling defensively in the second half.

Diouf (4):rather hesitant during the initial forty-five minutes, helped as little by a slippery pitch, caused by heavy rain, as by his awkward side. Passed through, fortunately without consequence, on the first dangerous action of the USO, missing his intervention on the halfway line (14th). Recovered well afterwards.

Mendy (5): the captain was able to show himself to be more serene than his defensive partner, vigilant when he turned away with his head a wrapped cross from Ponti (24th). His foul on El Khoumisti, on the edge of the area, offered a free kick that D’Arpino was unable to exploit, finding the NW wall (45th + 1).

Beneddine (5) :at the left-back position, he was thought to be a little more offensive than Diallo and this was confirmed. Interesting in the attack phase, as on this fleeting cross which passed in front of the Orléans goal without Nîmes at the reception (25th), the player trained at AS Monaco was more in difficulty defensively, Halby Toure sometimes escaping his vigilance in the left corridor. Squirts and cuts, to good effect, a Loire action, transforming into a counter-attacker (72nd). At his rate, is lobbed on the equalizer Orléans, too short on the recovery of the header of El Khoumisti (75th).

Bouaoune (5): the midfielder, under amateur license, did not hesitate to show himself to be impactful from the start of the game. Active in the midfield, he is involved in the goal of Abdeljelil (11th). Comfortable technically, like a few balls that he fluidified well towards the front. Gave a lot during the initial act. More struggling as the minutes go by.

Picouleau (4) : in a more withdrawn role than last season, positioned as a sentinel in front of the defense, the former Valenciennes player played his game, letting Akkal and Bouaoune play higher up. His free kick, too axial and weak, did not worry Viot (59th). A little loose in marking El Khoumisti on the USO goal (75th).

Akkal (6): at the origin of the opening of the crocodile score, scratching a ball, close to the Gard surface, to an Orléanais (11th). The former Pontois, who was discovering the level of the National, quickly got up to speed. His unimpressive size is compensated by his tactical intelligence and his sense of positioning. Replaced by Amara (78th).

Marcel (5): at NO, there was already Picouleau's silky left foot. Here is the one from the Guadeloupean who, with his left paw, does a bit what he wants with the ball. Even if he may have a tendency to slow down the tempo sometimes, the former OGC Nice player does a lot of good in keeping the ball. Too short to receive a cross from Camara (49th). Short of rhythm, replaced by Khalid (59th). Active from the moment he entered the game, the new pro tried to create danger, his shot with his right foot, from eighteen metres, lacking power (83rd).

Abdeljelil (6) : Nîmes recruited him to weigh on the defenses and score goals. It took ten full minutes for the former Cholet player to respond and show off his goal-scoring skills. Following a cross from Sbaï, from the right, he adjusted a header across the net, Viot's opposite side, beating the Loiret goalkeeper (1-0, 11th). Not impressive in terms of his ''fit'' physically, the scorer, on his goal, demonstrated that he was well-strengthened in the abs. Valuable in his defensive work on a visiting free-kick (52nd), as much as in setting up the balls and moving the block up. On one of NO's final actions, his pivot shot was blocked by the USO defense (88th).

Camara (4): generous in his effort, the left attacker, who looks a bit like Mbemba without his braids, was more discreet on the attack front. His shot, too soft, ended up in Viot's arms (31st). At the start of the second half, he took advantage of the failed intervention of the Orléans defender Giraudon but his cross, too imprecise, could not find Marcel at the reception (49th). In a good position, his shot was off target from twenty meters, right in the middle (55th). Too effaced overall, replaced by El Hamri (86th).

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