Fabien Lemoine returns in style!
Ligue 1, Stade Rennais 1 - 0 Valenciennes. In the dying moments of a game rather controlled, but in which Antonetti’s players failed to create a real attacking threat, Rennes took the edge through a header by Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik. But this game will especially remembered for Fabien Lemoine’s return, assisting to the goal after four months on the side-lines.
For the second time this season after the victory over Sochaux mid-September, Stade Rennes was forced to wait until injury time to snatch the victory, once more on a set-piece. A late deliverance that brings three more points to Rennes, and a result that allows the Rennes coach and his young squad to continue their way nicely in this Ligue 1 season.
«Those victories are the most beautiful », Frédéric Antonetti’s word, pronounced after tonight’s game, could bear a double meaning.
A «beautiful victory», this could be a success built in adverse conditions. During the week, various events had forced Antonetti to re-shuffle his starting eleven once more: Fanni’s departure, Souprayen’s injury, Dalmat’s last minute illness, Kembo’s injury during warm-up. With the young Jebbour starting his first ever professional game and an attacking line as young as unheard of, nothing to be optimistic about. Despite some good intentions, the first half came to confirm those apprehensions, against a Valenciennes team enterprising, but not inspired a lot more than their hosts.
As the fog, already spreading across the Route de Lorient, was getting thicker during the second half, Stade Rennes was gaining in consistency and ball possession. Enough to create a few goal chances, such as a fantastic curled shot by Doumbia (70’), but not enough to bring constant danger in front of the opposition’s goal. Valenciennes kept on trying their luck, mostly through counters, but got stuck on a well organised defensive line, or on an inspired Douchez (57’).
Both defences were in place, both attacks lacked the finishing touch, only a twist of fate could create a decision. Lemoine’s introduction in the game, greeted by a deserved ovation, was already something of a “beautiful story”. But what could one say after the player offered victory to his club, only two minutes later? A perfectly taken corner-kick and a powerful header by Kana-Biyik were enough to achieve the fairy-tale comeback.
«Those victories are the most beautiful », it’s true. Hard not to agree when a game tells such a story. For Lemoine, for his team-mates, this is another chapter, happy this time, to add in the book of this 2010-2011 season. Surely something to give another confidence boost to this young and courageous Rennes team.
Match Sheet
STADE RENNAIS FC 0 - 0 VALENCIENNES FC
Ligue 1, Game Week 18
Saturday, December 18th 2010, 19:00
Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : 20 112 spectators
Referee : Fredy Fautrel
Goal : Kana-Biyik (90’+3) for Rennes
Yellow Cards : Mandjeck (70’) and Kana-Biyik (90’+3) for Rennes ; Mater (42’) and Gomis (79’) for Valenciennes
- Stade rennais FC : Douchez - Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Mangane (cap), Jebbour - M’Vila, Doumbia, Leroy (Mandjeck, 59’) – Brahimi (Lemoine, 90’+1), Montaño, Camara.
Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.
- Valenciennes FC : Penneteau – Mater, Ducourtioux, Biševac, Angoua - Sanchez, Loriot (Cohade, 68’), Gomis – Nam, Samassa, Danic (Aboubacar, 76’)
Manager: Philippe Montanier