Stoppage for the Canaries! Uninspired, FC Nantes was surprised on the lawn of Troyes (1-0) and lost precious points in the fight for European places, Saturday during the 28th day of L1. The Canaries, recently qualified for the final of the Coupe de France and who remained on three wins and a draw in the league, lost on a goal from Iké Ugbo (43rd).
After Strasbourg (1-0) and Metz (0-0), the FCN chained in Aube a third game in a row without scoring away and missed the opportunity to temporarily take fifth place. After this tenth setback of the season, the Nantes people are in 7th place with 42 units on the clock.
Estac for its part recorded a third consecutive positive result after its draw against Marseille (1-1) and its victory in Bordeaux (2-0). The promoted back to 15th place with 28 points, four more than the barrage, Lorient, who will play a crucial duel in Clermont (16th) on Sunday.
Larouci very stirring
Faced with well-organized Champenois, Nantes failed to deploy their game and struggled to be dangerous. Conversely, the Trojans quickly invested the camp of the FCN, in particular thanks to a Yasser Larouci very in legs. The left side, who multiplied the overflows, also used Alban Lafont with a shot that the goalkeeper had difficulty deflecting for a corner (34th).
The Canaries were surprised shortly before half-time: after a poorly cleared corner from Florian Tardieu, Yasser Larouci centered at the far post, Erik Palmer-Brown set back with a header to Xavier Chavalerin, whose shot was sent in goal by Ugbo (1-0, 43rd).
This logical opening of the score came to sanction a very timid first act of the Nantes, who still trembled in additional time on a header from Lebo Mothiba which passed just above (45th + 1).
Harmless Nantes
Apart from a point-blank shot from Dennis Appiah repelled by Gallon (26th) and a header off target from Samuel Moutoussamy (41st), the Yellow House lacked sharpness.
After the break, the players of Antoine Kombouaré tried to rectify the situation but they showed too much waste in the last thirty meters.
The Nantes have copiously dominated the last twenty minutes but Troyes folded without breaking, not conceding any opportunity. Lafont even had to make a decisive exit at the feet of Rominigue Kouamé (90th) and a reflex save on a deflected Trojan shot (90th + 3).
The reception next weekend of Lille, which is ahead of them by one point in the standings, will be crucial for the Canaries in the race for Europe.