A defeat that stings [1-0]

For the last ever game to be played at the Stade des Costières, the locals were out in force as the autumn sun shone down. The emotion in the stands was palpable, and surely rubbed off on Nicolas Usaï's players. Nîmes had the better of the early exchanges, unsettling Bordeaux. With the Girondins defending deep, Nguessan had space to run riot. He shrugged off Tom Lacoux and fired off a powerful right-footed drive which snuck past Gaëtan Poussin to put the hosts into the lead (1-0, 6’). This was to be Nîmes only shot on target of the afternoon.

It took Bordeaux a few minutes to gather themselves, but once they did Nîmes barely ever got the ball out of their own half. Dilane Bakwa had a few glimpses of goal (11’ and 18’) but the best chance fell to Stian Gregersen. From a free kick taken by Vital Nsimba, the Norway international found himself alone at the back post. His shot looked destined to nestle itself just under the crossbar until Maraval intervened with a spectacular save (30’) !

David Guion made some changes at half time, with Issouf Sissokho and Alberth Elis sent into action to pile the pressure on the Nîmes defence. This tactic worked immediately, and Bordeaux were totally dominant, their attacks interrupted only by a few solitary and fruitless breaks from Saïd (61’ & 73’). Vital Nsimba was at the origin of virtually every chance the Girondins created in the second half. First he fired one over the bar himself (59’), then he produced a flurry of passes, crosses and set piece deliveries. Unfortunately, neither Albert Elis (72’) nor Yoann Barbet (90’) was able to put those chances to good use.

The two best goalscoring opportunities of the game fell to Josh Maja and Stian Gregersen. The former connected with a pass from Vital (of course) and seemed to have got the better of Maraval, but the angle was too tight to make his shot count (65’). The second agonisingly close moment came when Stian Gregersen fired over the bar from a corner deep inside injury time (90’+4). Bordeaux will have plenty of regrets after this third defeat of the season. Totally dominant for virtually the whole game, they deserved at least a point this afternoon. The boys will need to pick themselves up and turn things around quickly, ahead of next weekend's game with Pau.