A qualification without questions

After a rather troublesome end of 2011, a serious Stade Rennais started 2012 in the best of ways. With a team nearly entirely composed with first choice players (Kana-Biyik, Doumbia and Montaño were suspended) the Rouge et Noir have forgotten the memory of the disappointing draw conceded against the very same Nancy last summer.

Without drawing any conclusions about the possible future of this team in the Coupe de France, Frédéric Antonetti’s players showed much determination to get past this first obstacle seamlessly. In an open start to the game, despite the ultra-defensive tactics of the Lorrains (a 5-4-1 with two defensive midfielders), it was the Rennais who showed the most convincing.
After a first shot from Féret, deflected by the hand of a defender and saved by Grégorini, it was Kenbo who created the first serious chance. Launched wide on the right wing, the Rennes forward delivered a powerful shot, which was pushed away by the goalkeeper (15’).
Very active for this return to competition, the French-Congolese opened the score seven minutes later. Receiving a beautiful long pass by Vincent Pajot, Kembo escape the marking of Lemaître and went on to beat Grégorini with a powerful right foot shot (22’, 1-0).
Quickly rewarded for its efforts in front of a regrouped defence, Rennes didn’t stop there. In fact, their continuing domination paid off once again very soon. Brilliant at midfield, M’Vila launched Danzé on the right side. The Breton crossed a low-ball towards the entrance of the area for Kembo who let the ball through, leaving Julien Féret place a shot from the inside of his foot, without control, and straight into the goal’s corner. Superb and unstoppable! (26’, 2-0).

In full confidence after this second goal, Frédéric Antonetti’s players were playing an exhibition of football against a very lacklustre Nancy. The latter only had few chances to reply, and never really worried Costil. Only an effort by Korean Jo-Gook seemed a serious threat, but the perfectly curled ball flew just past the left post (31’). On the other side, Rennes was pushing on, aiming to kill the game before half-time. On a ball recovered by M’Vila after a good work from Théophile-Catherine on the left side, Julien Féret managed to shot but way over the crossbar (38’); Then Kembo, unstoppable in counter-attack, managed to eliminate Helder before hitting a powerful bar also over the bar (38’).
Just before half-time, after an interception by Pajot in the centre circle, the “Rouge et Noir” made the difference for the third time. The ball was transmitted to Pitroipa on the right wing. Absolutely on his own, the Burkinabe had all the time in the world to cross the ball for Boukari, who came ahead of his defender to push the ball in the back of the net 43ème, 3-0).
At half-time, Stade Rennais’ large advantage didn’t suffer any discussion, since the Bretons’ domination was complete. Unable to find solutions, Nancy could only try to limit the damage, against the Rennais controlling the game without difficulty.

On a lower rhythm in the second half, Rennes kept dominating the ball possession while blocking most of the rare Nancy attacks. Jean Fernandez’ men mainly created chances on set pieces. After struggling to clear his area on a corner (59’), Costil then saw a header by André Luiz roll wide after a free-kick (61’). But Nancy would create its clearest chances on counters, especially by Karaboué, who shot over the bar after having eliminated three Rennes defenders (68’) or by their defender Lotiès, who missed the goal with a header, alone at the limit of the six-meter box (73’).

Except for these few frights, Rennes had a few chances to score a fourth, without really accelerating. The main threat would once more come from Kembo, who dribbled his way past Puygrenier before blasting a powerful shot straight on Grégorini (76’), managed to transmit to Hadji after another series of dribbles before the Moroccan shot over the bar (79’), and then made his way in the penalty area, only managing to hit the outside netting (87’). Nancy, meanwhile, failed in saving the appearances, when Sami’s header on a corner was perfectly tipped over the bar by Costil (89’).

At the end of a perfectly controlled game, Stade Rennais have managed the perfect entrance in this 2011-2012 Coupe de France. Against a weak, and never threatening AS Nancy Lorraine, the Rennais have dealt with the game to the perfection, notably thanks to an ideal first half. A performance to confirm as soon as next Saturday in Caen.

Match Facts

STADE RENNAIS FC 3 - 0 AS NANCY-LORRAINE (half time : 3-0)

Coupe de France, Round of 64
Saturday, 7th January 2012, 20:45

Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : 6 342 spectators

Referee : Clément Turpin

Goals : Kembo (22’), Féret (26’) and Boukari (43’) for Rennes.

Yellow Cards : Théophile-Catherine (64’) for Rennes ; Bakar (85’) for Nancy.

- Stade rennais FC : Costil - Danzé, Apam, Mangane (cap), Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila, Pajot, Féret - Kembo, Boukari (Hadji, 63’), Pitroipa (Brahimi, 72’).

Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.

- AS Nancy-Lorraine : Grégorini - Helder, Lotiès (Sami, 80’), André Luiz (cap), Puygrenier, Lemaître (Brison, 76’) - Moukandjo (Traoré, 46’), Sané, Karaboué, Bakar - Jo-Gook.

Manager : Jean Fernandez.