Nîmes Olympique: Lacking efficiency, the Crocodiles bow to Martigues
|Le onze de départ de Nîmes Olympique : Cozzella, Mendy, Abdeljelil, Bouaoune, Marcel, Diouf (debout, de g. à d.) ; Sbaï, Amara, Akkal, Beneddine, Picouleau (accroupis, de g. à d.). Midi Libre – Thierry Albenque
Adil Hermach’s men had ample means to snatch at least a draw against Martigues (L2), Saturday August 3 at Mallemort, for their sixth preparation match. Due to a lack of realism, they were unable to recover the goal conceded from a free kick just before the break (1-0 defeat).
Nîmes Olympique lost 1-0 in their sixth preparation match against Martigues (Ligue 2), Saturday August 3 in Mallemort (Bouches-du-Rhône), under the watchful eye of Jean-Pierre Bernès. Not particularly in danger throughout the match, the Crocos conceded a magnificent free kick just before the break. In the second half, they had the balls to equalize but were seriously lacking in efficiency and realism.
A starting eleven with potential starters
The starting eleven lined up by Adil Hermach looked like a team likely to start the championship against Orléans, on August 16 at the Antonins, while waiting for the arrival of a goalkeeper, perhaps Marseille's Simon Ngapandouetnbu, 21, who could be loaned. A team positioned in 4-3-3 with, in the midfield, Picouleau at low point with Bouaoune on his right and Akkal on his left. In attack, it is the trio Marcel-Abdeljelil-Amara that was chosen.
In the first period, only one small Nîmes action
Promoted to Ligue 2, Martigues necessarily offers more substantial opposition than Agde (N3) on Wednesday in Saint-Gilles. The debates in the first period are tight, sometimes engaged. There are not many actions. The Crocos, who strive to play their game and obtain five corners, lack precision and are unable to worry Aymes. The only (very small) opportunity: a distant, low free kick from Beneddine which flies close to the post (14th).
Well grouped behind, the Provençal team is not more inspired offensively. But it is more dangerous on the few opportunities it creates. The header of Oucasse Mendy, very alone in the area to receive a cross from Amraoui, does not find the frame (18th).
Cozzella stops a penalty
Formose Mendy then commits a foul in the area on Oucasse Mendy. The referee – an amateur since the trio of officials did not come – whistles for a penalty. It is very poorly shot by Tlili and Cozzella, who went to his left, easily manages to grab it (34th).
Le but en vidéo 👉 https://t.co/LGj3A8W6BB pic.twitter.com/WHV30uRdrt
— FC Martigues Officiel (@fc_martiguesoff) August 3, 2024
The Nîmes goalkeeper could do nothing, however, about a free kick from Amraoui, with his left foot and on the edge of the area, which went into his top corner (1-0, 45th). It was Formose Mendy again who was sanctioned after an intervention that was too rough.
Nîmes more threatening in the second
Starting with the same players, Nîmes was much more threatening in the second half. But Abdeljelil's pivot shot was blocked (48th). The crocodile striker then failed to adjust his shot, the ball having landed at his feet after a shot in the area that was screwed by Akkal (58th).
The technical sheet
Martigues (L2) – Nîmes (N) : 1-0.
Mallemort, stadium of Honor.
Half-time: 1-0.
Goal for Martigues: Amraoui (45th).
NÎMES: Cozzella (Ichalalen, 66th) – Sbaï, Mendy (cap.), Diouf (Iafrate, 78th), Beneddine (Diallo, 70th) – Bouaoune (Laurens, 83rd), Picouleau (Lemaangr, 83rd), Akkal (Camara, 70th) – Marcel (El Hamri, 78th), Abdeljelil (Badu, 66th), Amara (Khalid, 78th).
A missed pass from Beneddine allows Martigues to go on the counterattack. At the end of the action, Cozzeella is on the save. Just before being replaced by Ichalalen, he made a physical opposition and deflected Oucasse Mendy's attempt (62nd).
The equalizer is denied to the Crocos
With Marcel, very interesting, at the helm, Nîmes continued to build, especially since the Martigues disappeared from circulation. The intentions were there, but not always the execution.
Amara's blocked cross was very close to hitting the target but it was sent back on the line by a Martigues defender (69th). Nîmes deserved to equalize. But Etile repels shots from Marcel and Sbaï one after the other (76th) then gets in front of Badu, the striker tested by the Crocodiles, who takes a cross from close range from Camara (77th).
In the last second of the match, Khalid launches Camara who comes forward and shoots but misses the target (90th). One thing is clear: Nîmes – and this is nothing new – are going to have to work in front of goal!