Nantes were once again unable to score this second goal ... -

Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS / AFP

  • FC Nantes, which was held in check (1-1) by Lorient at La Beaujoire this Sunday, regained 19th place… after the astonishing success (1-2) from Nîmes to Lille.

  • The Canaries had yet opened the scoring, but were again joined.

  • A classic scenario this season for this Nantes team.

This FCN version 2020-2021 is still a bit of the same story.

Incorrigible, this Sunday, against Lorient, a direct competitor in maintenance, the Canaries (19th) once again led in the score (thanks to Kolo Muani from the 2nd minute), had the break point (by Simon in the wake) and ended up crumbling, losing foot and taking an equalizer in the last moments (1-1).

And this one, everyone saw it coming.

Finally, no doubt not Alban Lafont surprised by a free kick from Merlu Armand Laurienté, "from elsewhere", according to Antoine Kombouaré and Ludovic Blas.

In the last five games, Nantes have opened the scoring four times and have been joined ... four times.

Which means twenty points lost since the start of the season while having nevertheless taken the lead in the meetings… A figure which says a lot about the excitement of this formation, which many observers believed on the right track after the feat in Paris last Sunday and which returns to 19th place in Ligue 1 after the unexpected success (1-2) from Nîmes to Lille this Sunday.

A worrying lack of control

“We feel a mental fragility.

We do not manage to score this second goal which would protect us… ”, explains coach Antoine Kombouaré, who can rightly think that he is repeating himself.

"I thought, however, that nothing could happen to us because we were good defensively," said Ludovic Blas.

A simplistic analysis when we remember the penalty for the Lorient canceled for an offside (60th) and the goal refused ten minutes later to Gravillon because the ball had previously been released from the corner.

As often in recent weeks, and although Kombouaré had renewed the tactical device in 5-3-2 saving the Parc des Princes, the FCN still lacked control, especially in the midfield.

Without being bleeding at each stroke, the Lorient waves came back incessantly, favored by the slag of players like Touré or Blas.

“At the end of the match, we were in a tough spot,” said the Nantes coach.

The goal from elsewhere from Lorient rewards their work.

"And sanction a Nantes formation not often in danger, but in suffering in the game for most of the meeting.

A team capable of winning at the Parc des Princes then unable to beat a direct competitor in maintenance eight days later.

Ludovic Blas did attempt an explanation on this subject: “For me, it's easier to play Paris than Lorient.

At the Park, you go without pressure.

Against Lorient, we think too much before tackling this type of match.

It shows in some of our choices.

We ask ourselves many more questions.

»Without having yet an answer on this inability to take cover after opening the scoring…

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FC Nantes-FC Lorient: The Canaries, joined at the very end of the match by a sick free kick from Laurienté, concede a draw… A match to relive here…

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FC Nantes-Lorient: Canaries or Merlus, who will drink the cup at Beaujoire?

Is Lafont responsible for the equalizer of Laurienté?

"I have rarely seen a free kick like that since Juninho," said Ludovic Blas.

However, on this strike from Laurienté, at nearly 40 m, does Albal Lafont, the Nantes goalkeeper, have some responsibility?

Was he too far along?

Did he really misjudge the trajectory?

After the match, the various players came to his rescue.

“I don't think Alban can do much,” Blas explained.

We thought the ball was going to come out.

"His counterpart Matthieu Dreyer was in any case his best lawyer:" He has an incredible ball strike.

The balloon floats.

He never has the same trajectory.

It's unmanageable as a guardian.

Even for me who know him, it's complicated, so someone who is not used to ... On goals like that, you should not try to incriminate someone.

You just have to say: "Bravo!"

"

  • Nantes

  • Soccer

  • Antoine Kombouare

  • League 1

  • FC Nantes

  • FC Lorient

  • Sport