TOPS/FLOPS – Sabaly and the Garnets showed opportunism to snatch a draw, Lopez and OM experienced a fatal wavering fifteen minutes.
TOPS
Metz learned the lesson
Last week in Rennes, captain Ismaël Traoré said his team had too much respect for opponents. Tonight, Bölöni’s men developed effective pressing in the Olympians’ half of the field. If improvements are still expected on the defensive level, the two goals scored 11 against 10 (65th, 70th) testify to the character progress of the Lorraine team. With Cheikh Sabaly, initiator of the revolt of the Grenats and author of the first goal, the Grenats obtained the point of a draw by taking a psychological advantage over the match. As the Messins gained confidence, the Olympians faded away. The equalizing goal of Vitinha (82nd) will not change anything.
Ismaïla Sarr, defense blaster
Once again aligned on the right side of the OM attack, the Senegalese international was the most virulent Phocéan, at least in the first half. The winger finished the game with 7 attempts, including two frank ones. From the 2nd minute, he touched Oukidja’s post and opened the score for OM (14th). It is surely he who put OM on the right track. Always oriented towards the goal, he only missed one goal to conclude a full meeting.
FLOPS
Marseille, the fatal quarter of an hour
It only took a few moments to put this OM team on the mat. Beyond the two goals scored in the space of five minutes (65th, 70th), OM conceded these two goals… 11 against 10. The Marcelino version of OM seems to be a reactionary team, which must feeling pressured to get a result. This quarter of an hour of hesitation, at the start of the second period, is the perfect example. Ronger’s canceled goal in the 52nd echoed Mikautadze’s dangerous attempt (47th). The state of mind is therefore to be reviewed, on the OM side. The two goals conceded at 11 against 10 remain, however, inexplicable.
The trembling hands of Pau Lopez
It would be hard to put this draw to the credit of Pau Lopez. But it is also difficult to argue in its favor. On the first goal, Sabaly’s shot is blocked by Rongier’s shin. The ball then flies high, very high in the air and lob the OM goalkeeper, who had time to see the leather arrive. The ball ends its race in the back of the net and the fury of FC Metz is launched. On the second goal, Mikautadze takes the time to control the ball well from the chest, ten meters from the goal, then arms a powerful strike. The Spaniard is on the trajectory but commits a gross handling error which costs his team a second goal. An evening to forget.
