Results
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Because I know that all of you follow my Ligue 1 ramblings quite judiciously (stop laughing), I decided that I would take a look back at my season preview to get some sense of where I stand. Was I way off in my predictions? Spot on? Fair to middling? Ligue 1 doesn’t start back up for another 2 weeks, so this is all you’ll get until then.
I tapped some individuals to be difference-makers among those who had been transfers this season. Let’s grade those choices, shall we?
(1) Cedric Faure (Le Havre AC) - umm, moving on (I mean, 1 goal in 10 matches?)
(2) Anthony Le Tallec (Le Mans UC 72) - Le Tallec has looked dangerous at times, although the majority of his presence on the pitch has been in the capacity of being juuuuuuuuuuust out of position; his 1 goal in 18 matches trails the pace of Gervinho (5 goals in 17 matches) by far
(3) Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais) - the young GK has come up huge time and time again for Lyon, giving up only 12 goals this season
(4) Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyonnais) - the Cameroonian has just 2 goals in 19 matches; although he has been in the starting line-up 15 times, the weight of the offense has been on Karim Benzema, with Juninho and Fred providing additional pressure
(5) Milan Baros (Olympique Lyonnais) - Baros had actually been on loan to Pompey, and was supposed to rejoin Lyon for this season, but instead he was shipped off to Galatasaray where he leads the Turkcell Süper Lig with 14 goals
(6) Hatem ben Arfa (Olympique de Marseille) - the French international has easily made the switch from Lyon and looks comfortable at all times on the pitch; his 6 goals is actually tied for first on his own club with Bakari Kone and Mamadou Niang, but it is ben Arfa’s presence that has allowed for the more equitable goal-scoring
(7) Sammy Traore (Paris Saint-Germain) - the aging defender has played in 12 matches and picked up 1 yellow card; his presence on the pitch has been largely uninspiring although he has at least managed to avoid making any huge noticeable gaffes
(8) Claude Makelele (Paris Saint-Germain) - the Chelsea reject has more cards (6) than goals/assists (umm, 0 - as in, zero) in 16 matches, and has made almost no difference for PSG this season; the ancient French international will likely only get 1 more season in the capital
(9) Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennais FC) - the former Fulhamerica star has anchored the backline for Rennes, starting every match and leading them to 3rd in Ligue 1 while conceding only 13 goals
How about my predictions for individual clubs?
“Bordeaux may struggle to make the same sort of push they did last year…”
Oops. Les Girondins currently sit 2nd in Ligue 1 and looked poised for an easy Top 4 finish after significant draws against Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes. Just so Joe doesn’t feel like a front-runner, remember that the last time Bordeaux were truly good (other than last season) was the 1998/1999 season, so they aren’t exactly ManUre here.
“However [Marseille's] defense are untested, and Mandanda has looked shaky…”
Considering some of the goals that Mandanda has let in, this was spot-on. While Marseille are at 5th in Ligue 1, this is mostly in spite of, not due to, the French Calamity James and his defense.
“…look out for Saint-Etienne seeking to regain their old-school form with the play of new-school striker Bafetimbi Gomis.”
Saint-Etienne are fighting relegation in 17th place in Ligue 1, and Gomis has a grand total of 4 goals.
“look out for Monaco looking to give Freddy Adu some run…”
Freddy has logged an astounding 97 minutes as a late substitute in 9 matches - hey, I said some run.
“look out for Rennes building off their 4-4 tie with L’OM…”
I was spot-on here as well. Rennes have stunned Ligue 1 with a streak of 18 unbeaten, and are sitting pretty at 3rd in Ligue 1.
“look out for Paris Saint-Germain…playing off new imports Makelele and Giuly…”
Not so much for Makelele, who has been largely ineffective, but Giuly has provided a soothing presence up top for PSG, chipping in with 3 goals and 1 assist.
“The relegation battle looks to consist of Le Havre, Le Mans, Grenoble, Lille, and Caen.”
I was spot-on about Le Havre, but that’s about all that I can say for myself here. Le Mans, Grenoble, and Caen are clustered at 11-13 and sit 8 points above the drop-zone, while Lille are 6th and only 6 points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lyon. It seems pretty clear at this point that relegation will befall Le Havre (20th, with 12 points on a 3-3-13 record), Sochaux (19th, with 14 points on a 1-11-7 record; 1 win!), and Valenciennes (18th, with 15 points on a 3-6-10 record). If Valenciennes begins to perform somewhat better, Saint-Etienne (19 points) and Nantes (20 points) are poised to take their place in the gutter.
So who have been the brightest stars and biggest disappointments in Ligue 1 so far?
While Karim Benzema was expected to be near the top of the goal-scorers’ table, the Ligue 1-leading 12 goals of Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse FC) and the presence of Lille strike tandem of Michel Bastos (9 goals) and Ludovic Obraniak (7 goals) are quite the surprise. Guillaume Hoarau (PSG) and Fernando Cavenaghi (Bordeaux) are exciting young talents, and the latter has been linked to a January transfer to Spurs or Celtic.
As for disappointments, there are 2 that stand out. Makelele, despite his advanced age of 35, was expected to provide a significant contribution to PSG, both on the pitch and in the locker-room. Instead, he picked up 5 yellow cards in his first 7 matches and demonstrated how to sit on the bench and sulk, which he most likely learned from Anelka. The second is Bafetimbi Gomis who, after being given some run in French international matches, was expected to keep Saint-Etienne near the top of Ligue 1. Instead, he has looked listless on the pitch and appears poised to finish near the bottom of the table with his club.
Alright kids, that’s all from Ligue 1 for now. In 2 weeks we’ll find out whether Lyon can hold on to 1st place as they are pushed by Bordeaux, Rennes, PSG, and Marseille.
Written by Darkvader on December 28th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Ligue 1 and Results and The NY Kid and le championnat.
Its all our fault!!!!Guys can u beleiv we just through away two very very important points dat too @ d 89th minute Huh!!!!We couldnt even defend d first corner of d match dat Fullham won…….even god wz nt with us ; dats wht i felt when d last live chance gt blockd on sm defender… However d game wz a gud show down being Drogba n Anelka together in d front it looked alwys a danger…dey really form a dangerous pair.. However being drwan dys match nw Chelsea is 3 points behind f Liverpool in d table who made their place still with a 5-1 victory over Newcastle……So nw its time for Scolari’s men to really get into d act…..
Written by Darkvader on December 28th, 2008 with no comments.
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First-half goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard helped chelsea to keep their place in Premier League table as they comfortably beat West Brom.
Drogba’s looping header after three minutes, his first league goal of the season, set up a dominant performance.
Albion fought hard until Lampard’s close-range finish in first-half stoppage time killed them off.
West Brom had a little more of the game after the break but Chelsea were able to cruise to victory.
The win keeps Chelsea in touch with Liverpool, who knocked Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side back off the top with victory over Bolton in the later kick-off.
Scolari chose to pair Premier League top scorer Nicolas Anelka with Drogba up front, and the decision paid immediate dividends.
Drogba met Joe Cole’s swirling cross from the right and delivered a well-placed header past the helpless Scott Carson.
West Brom were barely in the game in the first half as Chelsea engineered time and space on both flanks, with Albion striker Craig Beattie alone and frustrated up front for the visitors.
But the home side sometimes struggled to convert their possession into shots on goal, Lampard the chief culprit as a succession of chances lacked the telling finish.
Lampard appreciates return of Drogba
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech dealt comfortably with Albion’s few opportunities, Do-Heon Kim’s bundled half-chance their only first-half strike of note.
Ashley Cole forced Carson into a superb double save, first tipping Cole’s lethal left-footed strike on to the post, then pouncing on the rebound.
And West Brom’s back line soon suffered another blow as centre-half Abdoulaye Meite pulled up and was forced off while chasing down Lampard.
It was Lampard who crushed the visitors’ resistance as they tried to hold on for half time.
Chelsea’s last attack of the half found Lampard surging on to a loose ball in the Albion area.
Mowbray accepts ‘gap in class’
He negotiated the flailing leg of Paul Robinson with precision footwork before finishing from a matter of yards.
Early in the second half, Ballack combined with Anelka to create an opportunity for a third, Anelka threading the ball through for Lampard, who failed to weight his chip well enough to clear Carson.
West Brom slowly inched forward as the second half wore on, earning enough possession to threaten the Chelsea goal.
But Chris Brunt’s wildly optimistic 30-yard drive into the crowd summed up Albion’s frustration at their lack of clear-cut opportunities.
Each attack for the visitors left Chelsea space to exploit on the break, and Drogba should have done better when he blazed wide having had time to steady himself.
606: DEBATE
Drogba and Anelka both playing - why has it taken so long for the manager to do what he should have done three or four games ago?
BlueTalkingStraight
Moments later Drogba again found himself with time and space, only to be denied by Carson from close range, with Robinson getting a foot in front of the rebound.
That marked Drogba’s last contribution of the game in his first Premier League start since September, Scolari replacing the 30-year-old with Florent Malouda.
Robinson saw his late strike blocked by the flying body of Alex as West Brom tried to steal a goal from their rare forays into the Chelsea half.
But the remainder of the second half dissolved into a tame victory parade for the home side, and Anelka’s low, rasping strike into the body of Carson proved the last touch of the game.
Chelsea assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins:
“The early goal is important in any game, it settles the nerves down, and we played some very good football today.
“I thought West Brom came to have a game of football and they played well, but our movement up front was very good with Anelka, Drogba and Joe Cole. We were always going to create chances.
“If any team in the Premier League loses a player of Didier Drogba’s quality, they will have a problem. It’s great to have the big fella back, he brings so many people into the game.”
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray:
“The gap in class was there to see. We worked hard enough and tried to frustrate them, but we lacked the quality to give them any real problems.
“The longer it stayed at 1-0, they could have got very edgy, but at 2-0 they were able to play within themselves.
“It’s not coming to Stamford Bridge that decides whether we stay up or not, it’s games at home against teams in the bottom half of the table.”
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Belletti 46), Ivanovic, Alex, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole (Deco 79), Drogba (Malouda 66), Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Ferreira, Kalou, Cudicini, Mineiro.
Booked: Ballack.
Goals: Drogba 3, Lampard 45.
West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite (Barnett 27), Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Koren, Greening, Kim (Bednar 69), Brunt, Beattie (Moore 60).
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Dorrans, Borja Valero.
Att: 43,417.
Ref: Rob Styles
man of the match: Chelsea’s Frank Lampard on 8.11 (on 90 minutes).
Written by Darkvader on December 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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Misfiring Chelsea again missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table as they had captain John Terry sent off at Goodison Park.
In the 35th minute of a physical encounter which lacked quality, Terry was given a straight red card for a reckless studs-up lunge at Leon Osman.
Chances were scarce as Steven Pienaar bundled in from a yard for Everton late on but was ruled to be offside.
The Blues drop their first away points of the season as Liverpool remain top.
Both sides lacked cutting edge with the hosts, without a recognised striker in their 18-man squad, having to rely on midfielder Tim Cahill to lead the line.
Chelsea, with Nicolas Anelka quiet and Joe Cole still struggling for form, failed to maintain their 100% away record and missed out on setting a new mark for consecutive away victories in the top flight.
But considering they played over half the game with 10 men, they may be happy with a point.
Despite the shadow cast by Terry’s red card, the match was characterised by commitment and hard work from both sets of players - but, also, an acute lack of quality.
Chelsea were first to show when, after Everton right-back Tony Hibbert was caught napping in the fourth minute, Ashley Cole’s vicious high volley forced Tim Howard to dive high and push round his post.
The hosts, full of graft and bite, hit back immediately when Phil Neville lashed a low drive into Blues keeper Petr Cech’s arms before Cahill and Marouane Fellaini had headed attempts on goal.
Anelka nearly forced the ball awkwardly into the net after 19 minutes but was flagged offside.
Chelsea were slick and patient in their build-up play but the final touch around the box was lacking.
Perhaps it was that frustration that caused skipper Terry to lunge at Osman.
The ball had spilled loose but as both players went for the challenge, Terry’s studs appeared up and he was too high and a little late, leaving Osman prone on the ground.
Referee Phil Dowd consulted his linesman long and hard before dismissing the England defender.
Chelsea’s anger boiled over minutes later when Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were both booked for dissent after which Joseph Yobo went close for Everton as he hooked his foot around a low right-foot volley to force Cech into a smart low save.
John Terry challenges Leon Osman
This 35th minute tackle on Leon Osman saw Chelsea captain Terry sent off
Striker Didier Drogba replaced Anelka and defender Branislav Ivanovic came on for Joe Cole as the second-half got under way with Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari seeking to find a new solution with one man missing.
Yet Everton looked the more likely to take a lead as Hibbert, a constant source of effective crosses from the right wing all evening, whipped in a pacy cross for Fellaini.
The Belgian international made a superb connection with his head but the ball sped straight into the relieved Cech’s arms.
After more than 20 minutes of hustle and bustle, Joleon Lescott got on the end of a Hibbert corner to force Cech to palm the ball away from his top corner in the 75th minute.
Everton had not been making best use of the extra space available to them but that changed in the final 10 minutes when substitute Leighton Baines sent in a low cross for Fellaini to backheel inches wide.
Pienaar then forced the ball out of Cech’s hands and into the net with minutes remaining - but the Everton midfielder was flagged offside.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo (Baines 61), Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Osman, Arteta, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Van der Meyde, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Kissock.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole (Ivanovic 46), Ballack, Lampard, Deco (Bridge 87), Anelka (Drogba 46).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Malouda, Kalou, Belletti.
Sent Off: Terry (35).
Booked: Ashley Cole, Lampard, Ballack.
Att: 35,655
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Written by Darkvader on December 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
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This week’s best result was a tough choice, with two big scorelines surprising me on Sunday. In the end, the absolute drubbing of Marseille by Nancy was slightly more impressive than bottom-feeder Valenciennes drawing with PSG. The gap between the latter two clubs is bigger in the table, but the way that AS Nancy throttled Olympique de Marseille was simply too much to ignore.
Saturday, December 20th:
Grenoble 2-1 Le Mans - Grenoble had scored 0 goals in their last 6 matches but were able to generate enough offense to take the 3 points in this match. They began the pressure early, with Batlles forcing a save from Le Mans GK Pele. Batlles maintained that pressure and his free-kick in the 34th minute found Djadjedje. The latter’s shot crashed off the crossbar, but Baning was there to put in the rebound. Almost immediately after the break it was a Paillot header off another free-kick that gave Grenoble the 2-0 lead. Several minutes Gervinho sent in a shot that was parried by Grenoble GK Le Crom, and the rebound went directly to Maiga for the finish. Le Mans had one final chance to equalize and rescue the points, but Le Tallec’s header was saved easily be Le Crom.
Lille 3-1 Le Havre - Lille’s trio of firepower all scored to put down Le Havre in a match where the latter had more yellow cards shown than shots on goal. In a sign of things to come, the first chance of the match came for Lille in the 14th minute when Bastos played a backheel to Cabaye, whose pass to Obraniak resulted in a shot saved by Le Havre GK Revault. The result was a goal in the 30th minute when Bastos played an excellent pass through to Obraniak. The first chance for Le Havre came in the 42nd minute when ben Idir hit the crossbar, but they did not equalize until the 61st minute, on a nice shot from Alla (God Shammgod thinks that is an awesome name). In the 65th minute Revault was forced into a save by more excellent work from Bastos, followed shortly by Cabaye hitting the crossbar. In the 82nd minute Grenoble took the lead when Cabaye put the corner from Bastos into the back of the net, and the favor was returned in the 94th minute when Cabaye played Bastos through onto goal, beating the offside trap for an easy finish.
Lorient 1-2 Rennes - Continuing an incredible run, Rennes remained unbeaten in their last 17 matches to vault back into the top of the table. It was their physicality (20 fouls to 9; 4 yellow cards, including 1 to Bocanegra) which allowed them to boss Lorient all over the pitch, but they needed 2 late goals to take the 3 points. It was not from lack of trying, however, as Lemoine (17th minute), and Pagis (37th minute) forced Lorient GK Audard into saves. Lorient then began to pressure, with Jouffre having his shot cleared off the line in the 45th minute. That pressure paid off, as a Vahirua corner was slotted home by Morel in first-half injury time. Lorient looked to increase their lead with second-half pressure from Jouffre and Vahirua, both of whom forced Rennes GK Douchez into good saves. Rennes equalized in the 75th minute with Gyan (in his 1st Ligue 1 goal) on the end of a cross from Sow. The latter sealed the 3 points late in the match, receiving a pass from Pagis and dribbling around the stranded Audard.
Nantes 1-1 Sochaux - Despite only getting 1 shot on goal, Sochaux were able to make that shot count and hold on to 1 point in this match. In contrast, Sochaux GK Richert was kept busy, particularly in the first half as he was called upon to make saves on Da Rocha (30th minute), Djordjevic (35th minute), and N’Daw (40th minute). However, it was Sochaux who broke through first, with Erdinq scoring off a cross from Birsa in the 70th minute (despite also earning a yellow card, Erdinq doesn’t get the honors this week because Sochaux are still firmly in the relegation zone). Nantes rescued the point in the 86th minute when Capoue finished off a nice pass from Abdoun, who had been an 83rd minute substitute.
Saint-Etienne 2-0 Auxerre - Saint-Etienne got their 3rd win in 4 matches, and sent Auxerre to their 5th defeat in their last 7 but both teams remain towards the bottom of the table. Saint-Etienne found early pressure through Gomis and Gigliotti, but it was teammate Machado who got the goal in the 12th minute after sending his free-kick into the wall and collecting his own rebound for the finish. The second-half started with equal difficulty for Auxerre, as GK Riou was forced into an acrobatic save on a bicycle kick from Gomis. After having had no chances on goal in the first-half, Auxerre stepped up their play with Kahlenberg and Niculae eliciting nice saves from Saint-Etienne GK Janot. Gomis cemented the 3 points in the 89th minute with a cheeky lob over Riou that came against the run of play.
Toulouse 2-2 Nice - Nice scored 2 bookend goals around a brace from Gignac to earn the draw. The first goal came in the 6th minute when Modeste finished a pass from Echouafni, and Nice looked to be in good position. As the match progressed, it was Toulouse who began to look more comfortable, particularly Gignac who forced Nice GK Ospina into a good save before slotting a shot past him in the 33rd minute on a pass from Bergougnoux. The latter then played Sissoko through on goal, but Ospina made the save again. In the 86th minute a long ball from Bergougnoux resulted a volley from Mathieu. The shot was stopped by Ospina, but the rebound came directly to Gignac for his brace. Hognon left it late to rescue the 1 point, as he headed home the equalizer for Nice in the 93rd minute.
Caen 0-1 Lyon - Olympique Lyonnais had only taken 2 points from their last 4 matches, but Benzema made sure that his club would come out with the full 3 points against Caen. In the 15th minute Fred had a very weak shot easily saved by Caen GK Plante, and the mercurial Brazilian promptly disappeared for the rest of the match. 1 minute later, Savidan forced Lyon GK Lloris into his only save of the match. Juninho and Benzema then provided all the pressure, with the latter slotting home a 20-yard strike in the 44th minute for the match winner. Plante was kept busy for the rest of the match, making saves on Boumsong and Juninho in quick succession. Caen had an opportunity to equalize in the 79th minute, but Toudic’s volley was well off-target. Benzema thought he had a brace in the 87th minute, but he was adjudged to be offsides, and he had one last chance in the dying moments after receiving a pass from Govou but put the effort wide.
Sunday, December 21st:
Marseille 0-3 Nancy - The first day of winter brought a chilly reception for Marseille, as 22 shots and 67% of the possession went for naught. Nancy began early, with a header from Luiz in the 8th minute forcing a save from Marseille GK Mandanda. It was not until the 30th minute that L’OM got their first chance, with a shot from Cheyrou easily taken by Nancy GK Bracigliano (who later picked up a yellow card in an increasing trend for him). Just minutes later Nancy were ahead 1-0 on some defensive miscues, as Hadji jumped on a Gavanon corner amidst a scramble in the goal mouth. In the 39th minute, just 5 minutes after his first, Hadji had a brace as a pass from Brison sprung the trap and Marseille stood with their arms in the air clamoring for offsides. Marseille’s only other legitimate chance came in the 55th minute after Samassa forced a good save from Bracigliano. Just 1 minute later the destruction was complete as Dia poached the ball from Ziani and lashed a 20-yard strike past Mandanda. The damage could have been even worse in the 63rd minute as Gavanon hit the post, but I’m sure Nancy were satisfied with the 3-0 thrashing.
Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Valenciennes - The club from the capital looked to take the 3 points, but twice Valenciennes fought back from a deficit to equalize. In the 10th minute a Belmadi diving header was well-saved by PSG GK Landreau, and Hoarau immediately responded with a goal for PSG but was adjudged to have been offsides. Hoarau would get his goal in the 27th minute off a cross from Ceara, and the rest of the first-half was relatively listless. The second-half started off quickly, with some poor PSG defense on a cross allowing Mater to score in the 46th minute for the equalizer. PSG pushed to regain the lead, with a well-struck volley from Giuly well-saved by Valenciennes GK Penneteau in the 57th minute. The pressure resulted in a goal in the 72nd minute when Penneteau was only able to push aside a shot from Sessegnon directly into the path of Rothen for the finish. Sessegnon was then extremely unlucky in the 76th minute, as his shot hit both the crossbar and the post. PSG would rue that missed opportunity as Pujol lashed a shot off the crossbar in the 84th minute and Tiene put the rebound into the back of the net for the equalizer.
Monaco 3-4 Bordeaux - In perhaps the craziest match of the season, Monaco scored on every shot on goal to go up 3-0, only to watch Bordeaux steal the 3 points with 2 goals in the last 3 minutes. Pino opened the scoring for Monaco in the 13th minute with a vicious 30-yard free-kick that found the top-right corner of the goal. Bordeaux then had their only opportunity of the first-half snuffed out as Monaco GK Ruffier made a nice save on Cavenaghi. Licata gave his club the 2-0 lead right before the half as he took advantage of some hesitant defense to score. Almost immediately on the other side of half-time, Licata completed his brace when he headed home an excellent cross from Pino. Monaco must have felt in complete control, even when Chamakh (a half-time substitution) cut into the lead by heading home a Gourcuff free-kick a short time later in the 53rd minute. When Diarra sent in a 20-yard strike that beat Ruffier in the 67th minute, Monaco must have gotten slightly more nervous. When Chamakh completed his brace in the 87th minute by heading home a Gourcuff corner, Monaco must have been praying for the whistle to preserve the draw and the point. And when Chamakh provided the assist to Cavenaghi for the winning goal in the 89th minute, the club from the principality were left with nothing for their efforts. Despite his yellow card coming for his celebratory antics, Chamakh does indeed take home the “Goal-scorer to get carded” awarded on the basis of his Gordie Howe hat-trick. Freddy Adu watch: Freddy came on for Licata in the 75th minute, and promptly earned a yellow card in the 76th minute. Normally I’m all for getting Freddy some playing time, but Licata had a brace and by the 75th minute Monaco were only leading 3-2 - maybe Licata wasn’t the best guy to take off?
So, after a thoroughly entertaining matchday 19, the top of the table looks like this: (1) Lyon, with 38 points on an 11-5-3 record and a +11 goal differential; (2) Bordeaux, with 35 points on a 10-5-4 record and a +4 goal differential; (3) Rennes, with 34 points on an 8-10-1 record and a +11 goal differential; and (4) Paris Saint-Germain, with 33 points on a 10-3-6 record and a +7 goal differential. In a week that featured numerous high-scoring games and an avalanche of yellow cards (was Howard Webb in charge of all of these matches?), Bordeaux jump from 3rd to 2nd, L’OM fall from 2nd to 5th, and Rennes jump from 5th to 3rd, while Lyon and PSG stand pat.
Stay tuned for the “Ligue 1 Halfway Review” later this week!
Written by Darkvader on December 21st, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Ligue 1 and Results and The NY Kid and le championnat.
Although the most anticipated match-up of the weekend was the Lyon v. Marseille tilt, is is Bordeaux who get the best result, getting an important 3 points to move into 3rd place in Ligue 1. Overall, the weekend featured quite a bit of scoring (and an unusually high number of 3-1 results) but ended with a nil-nil draw in the battle for 1st place.
Saturday, December 13th:
Auxerre 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain - In a very even match, it was the early pace and pressure of Sessegnon that made the difference. In the 5th minute a free-kick from Rothen was flicked to the post by Armand for a waiting (and unmarked) Sessegnon to open the scoring. In the 13th minute Lejeune missed a chance to equalize, and in the 22nd minute Sessegnon put PSG up 2-0 after beating 2 defenders. Auxerre had the better pressure in the second-half, with Quercia forcing a save from PSG GK Landreau in the 60th minute and Niculae hitting the crossbar just 1 minute later. That pressure paid off in the 86th minute when Traore took down Oliech in the 6-yard box, with Hengbart slotting home the resulting PK, but Auxerre were unable to score the equalizer.
Le Mans 1-3 Bordeaux - Despite getting more shots on target, Le Mans found themselves on the wrong end of a strong score. The majority of the action was in the second-half, which started early when Gervinho had his shot blocked in the 48th minute. Bordeaux opened the scoring in the 59th minute when Cavenaghi’s shot took a slight deflection off a defender and went into the goal. Helstad responded in the 67th minute with a brilliant run, beating 2 defenders and a difficult angle on the shot for the equalizer. Chalme then put Bordeaux back ahead in the 76th minute with a cheeky long-range lob over Le Mans GK Pele. Jussie finished off the scoring in the 94th minute (that’s just rubbing it in) when he latched onto a long clearance from Chamakh and fired it home.
Nancy 2-0 Grenoble - Nancy dominated the match, taking more shots and winning 5 corners (to 0 for Grenoble), and the pressure showed in the score. They started early, as Hadji headed his shot barely over the crossbar in the 3rd minute. Akrour responded in the 8th minute, forcing a save from Nancy GK Bracigliano, but after that it was the Berenguer show. The first goal came in the 17th minute when Feret finished off a nice cross from Zerka into the bottom-right corner. Just minutes later Berenguer put a rocket of a free-kick just wide of the post. In the 28th minute, Djedje looked for the equalizer, but Bracigliano was there for another save. 1 minute later Berenguer sent a header just wide, and right before the half he sent another screaming shot barely wide again. In the 56th minute Grenoble just missed equalizing again, as Robin hit the bar, and Dia put the game away in the 66th minute after another well-delivered pass from Zerka.
Sochaux 2-2 Caen - In a thoroughly entertaining match, Sochaux domainted statistically (9 shots on goal; 63%-27% possession) but didn’t rescure the 1 point until very late in the match. In the 14th minute Savidan headed the ball just wide of the Sochaux goal, but not much later the scoring was opened when an Adnane corner-kick was spilled by Sochaux GK Richert to the feet of Nivet, who fed Gomis for the easy finish. It wasn’t until the 35th minute that Sochaux threatened, with Perquis forcing a save from Caen GK Plante. The 2nd goal of the match came in the 69th minute when Nivet fed Gomis for another easy finish, securing the “Goal-scorer to get carded” award for this week with a brace. Sochaux gaffer Francis Gillot brought on Privat in the 73rd minute, and the decision paid dividends almost immediately as Privat pounced on poorly-punched clearance from Caen GK Plante for the finish. The draw was complete in the 89th minute when Privat latched onto an Isbay free-kick with an amazing finish (around the 2-minute mark in the clip).
Toulouse 3-1 Saint-Etienne - Toulouse came out early, with Gignac catching Saint-Etienne GK Janot completely flat-footed in the 5th minute. After some minor pressure from both sides, Saint-Etienne equalized in the 37th minute when Machado’s free-kick hit the post and then hit the back of the net. Didot put Toulouse back on top in first-half stoppage time as a poor clearance from Janot was sent back in immediately and caught the GK by surprise. Gignac finished his brace in the 55th minute, beating Janot (who had a nightmare performance) at the near post. Gignac also had 2 chances at completing his hat-trick, but was unable to capitalize.
Valenciennes 3-1 Monaco - Relegation-bound Valenciennes bossed Monaco all over the pitch, forcing the principality club into 24 fouls and only 1 shot on goal. Monaco GK Ruffier was busy all day, and early as he made quick saves on Audel and Pujol in the opening stages. Things looked better for Monaco when Pino put in his first Ligue 1 goal in the 23rd minute, but Valenciennes equalized just 6 minutes later through a wonderful free-kick from Sanchez-Moreno. The rest of the match was one-sided, as Audel’s volley hit the post in the 36th minute and Belmadi’s volley in the 41st minute resulted in the lead for his club. Pino did manage to hit the crossbar for Monaco, but the end came in the 59th minute when a Danic cross was headed in by Pujol. Danic almost got his second assist towards the end of the match, but Audel’s header was well-saved by the well-tested Ruffier. Freddy Adu watch: On the bench, but 0 minutes of playing time. Really, Jean Petit? Your club is down 3-1 after 60 minutes, and you can’t give Freddy some run out for the final half-hour in an attempt to spark something?
Rennes 0-0 Nantes - Despite holding Nantes to 0 shots on goal and holding 63% of the possession, Rennes found itself only able to take 1 point from this match. Rennes missed a chance to move within 1 point of Ligue 1 leaders Lyon, but apparently Nantes were motivated to get the 1 point to move them out of the relegation zone. The basement club almost opened the scoring early, but Bagayoko’s header went wide in the 1st minute and a free-kick from N’Daw in the 4th minute hit the post. Rennes’ best chance came in the 35th minute when Nantes GK Heurtebis spilled a Cheyrou free-kick, but Ekoko put the follow-up well over the crossbar. Ultimately, neither side could produce enough pressure to make the breakthrough and they had to share the points.
Sunday, December 14th:
Le Havre 1-3 Lorient - Despite giving up 13 corner-kicks, Lorient had the better match, taking all 3 points. The first legitimate chance of the match came for Le Havre in the 24th minute, but Dieuze’s shot was well-saved by Lorient GK Audard. In the 30th minute Le Havre GK Revault made an excellent double-save, first stopping Gameiro’s header and then getting in front of the follow-up from Abriel. Lorient finally broke through in the 41st minute, with a streaking shot from Mansouri deflecting into the net off a defender. They doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Gameiro beat the offside trap and dribbled around Revault to put the ball into the empty net. Dieuze pulled 1 back for Le Havre in the 67th minute with a vicious volley off a Gillet cross, but Vohirua secured the points for Lorient minutes later when he lobbed Revault.
Nice 0-1 Lille - Lille took 20 shots in the match, but they only needed their first for the win. In the 8th minute Bastos got on the end of an Obraniak cross for the clean finish and the only goal of the match. He had an opportunity for the brace in the 11th minute, but the shot was well-saved by Nice GK Ospina. The driving rain in the second-half ensured a more defensive match, and the only good opportunity for Nice to equalize came in the 70th minute when Fae had his shot well-saved by Lille GK Malicki.
Lyon 0-0 Marseille - In the much-hyped match-up between 2 giants of French football, the resulting nil-nil draw cut Lyon’s lead at the top from 4 points to 2 points. The match was fairly even, but relatively slow, with more yellow cards distributed (a veritable who’s who of cards going to Toulalan and Grosso for Lyon, and Zubar, Ben Arfa, and Zenden for Marseille) than shots on goal. Marseille suffered from the absence of Niang, as the striker had 8 goals in his previous 8 matches against Lyon. The first shot on goal came in the 28th minute when a well-taken Juninho free-kick was saved by Marseille GK Mandanda. The theme continued throughout the match, as Juninho had 2 more free-kicks saved by Mandanda in the 36th and 60th minutes. Marseille’s first good chance came in the 33rd minute when a volley from Valbuena was stopped by Lyon GK Lloris. In the 42nd minute Govou hit the post, and that was the end of the action until late in the second-half. Samassa hit the crossbar in the 85th minute, and Kallstrom forced a final save from Mandanda in the 90th minute. The only other thing of note was that Ben Arfa, making his first return after moving to Marseille from Lyon during the summer transfer, was whistled by the Lyon fans when he was substituted in the 81st minute.
So, after matchday 18 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Lyon, with 35 points on a 10-5-3 record and a +10 goal differential; (2) Marseille, with 32 points on an 8-8-2 record and a +12 goal differential; (3) Bordeaux, with 32 points on a 9-5-4 record and a +11 goal differential; and (4) Paris Saint-Germain, with 32 points on a 10-2-6 record and a +7 goal differential. Almost half-way through the season and things are tightening up at the top! Lyon has a fight on their hands if they want to take their 8th straight Ligue 1 title.
Written by Darkvader on December 14th, 2008 with no comments.
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The big result of the weekend obviously goes to FC Nantes, who upset Ligue 1 leaders Lyon 2-1. Granted, Lyon were again missing Juninho and Benzema, and Nantes has already tied Marseille this season, but this was a truly shocking result for Claude Puel’s side.
Friday, December 5th:
Bordeaux 2-1 Valenciennes - In a match played early due to the Champions League tie against Roma on Tuesday, Bordeaux got the warm-up they needed, committing only 14 fouls and maintaining 63% of the possession. Valenciennes started more quickly, with Pujol getting off shots in the 9th (shot wide) and 24th (saved by Bordeaux GK Valverde) minutes. But it was Bordeaux who struck first in the 35th minute when a Jurietti free-kick went to Wendell, who passed to Chamakh for the easy header. Valenciennes equalized in the 43rd minute when a pass from Audel allowed Pujol to split 2 defenders and score easily. In the 45th minute Cavenaghi was denied by Valenciennes GK Penneteau, but 2 minutes later Cavenaghi had his revenge, scoring the winning goal. Valenciennes had 2 final chances to equalize, with Schmitz heading a Belmadi free-kick onto the post, and Mater being saved by Valverde.
Saturday, December 6th:
Caen 1-1 Rennes - Rennes dominated the match, but had to rely on a late goal to steal 1 point. In the first 3 minutes, a shot from Leroy was saved by Caen GK Plante, and Bocanegra hit the bar, but the rest of the first half was listless on both sides. In first-half stoppage time, Barzola’s cross found Nivet on the far post for an easy tap-in and 1-0 Caen lead. In the 50th minute Toudic should have doubled the score, as he was in 1-on-1, but Rennes GK Douchez made the save. Rennes finally broke through in the 77th minute when Sow (who was a 76th minute substitute) received an excellent pass from Briand for the clear finish.
Lille 1-1 Toulouse - It took until the very end of the match, but Lille remained unbeaten at home since opening day of the Ligue 1 season. Toulouse provided early, and consistent, pressure through Mathieu. Lille’s first good chance of the match came in the 37th minute when Obraniak sent his header wide, and 3 minutes later Bastos hit the post and then forced Toulouse GK Carrasso into a nice save. Toulouse finally broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when Didot’s free-kick fell nicely to Cetto, who promptly put the ball between Malicki’s legs. Lille equalized the match in stoppage time, on literally their last possible possession, when Bastos rocketed in a free-kick that beat the wall and Carrasso. Bastos was also immediately booked for taking off his jersey in celebration, but that’s not an acceptable way to earn the weekly award.
Marseille 2-1 Nice - The 2 clubs began the day equal on points, with Nice ahead on goal differential, but Marseille retook 2nd place in Ligue 1 with the win. They started the pressure early, with a shot from Zenden being tipped onto the bar by Nice GK Ospina in the 3rd minute. They struck early as well, with Ziani slotting home a free-kick in the 14th minute (although there was a hint that it may have been an OG from Echouafni). In the 32nd minute Zenden forced Ospina into another save, and the pressure paid off again in stoppage time of the first-half when Rool pulled on Valbuena’s shirt and Niang slotted home the resulting PK. Nice got 1 goal back at the start of the second-half, with Diakite directing a Hellebuyck free-kick to Bamogo, who slotted home his shot despite half of the Marseille defense standing around him. The remainder of the match was the Niang show, as he hit the post and was then forced off with an injury. Nice had 2 final chances, as Mouloungui was stopped by Mandanda in the 75th minute and Saada hit the crossbar in stoppage time.
Saint-Etienne 2-0 Havre - In a match featuring 2 clubs moving in opposite directions, Saint-Etienne demonstrated their improved play by committing only 8 fouls and holding 75% of the possession. Le Havre got the first shot on goal in the 5th minute, but Police was easily saved by Saint-Etienne GK Janot. After that it was Havre GK Revault who was kept busy, making wonderful saves on Matsui in the 17th minute and Gomis in the 36th minute. The first goal of the match came in the 75th minute when a Mirallas cross was volleyed into the net by Poyet. Revault made another save on Gomis in the 76th minute, but in the 80th minute Gomis received a brilliant pass from Mirallas for the second goal. For those scoring at home, Mirallas came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute and promptly had 2 assists in the next 7 minutes. That’s an effective decision from the gaffer.
Nantes 2-1 Lyon - In the match of the week, the minnows kept the Ligue 1 leaders busy despite only holding 41% of the possession. Lyon started quickly, with Piquionne forcing 2 saves from Nantes GK Alonzo in the first 5 minutes. He then broke through in the 43rd minute when a free-kick from Kallstrom was spilled by Alonzo directly to Piquionne’s feet, who scored the easy goal (and was awarded a yellow card in the 55th minute for this week’s “Goal-scorer to get carded” award). Nantes made a tactical substitution, bringin on Klasnic in the 59th minute, which immediately paid dividends in the 60th minute when Capoue stole the ball from Toulalan and shot on goal. Lyon GK Lloris made the save, but was only able to parry the ball as far as Klasnic, who put in the easy finish. Lyon’s nightmare was complete in the 89th minute when Gassama pulled down Bagoyoko in the box and Klasnic took the PK to finish his brace.
Sunday, December 7th:
Grenoble 0-0 Auxerre - As one would expect, the only nil-nil result of the weekend was a fairly boring match. The first good chance of the match came in the 13th minute when a Chafni free-kick was saved by Grenoble GK Wimbee. The only other chance of the first-half came in the 26h minute when Courtois stole the ball from Grichting and fed the pass to Moreira, who put his shot over the crossbar. In the 70th minute Hengbart sent in a cross which turned into a shot, and Wimbee was forced to make his second save of the match. Each club had one last chance, with a shot from Moreira saved by Auxerre GK Riou in the 74th minute, and Coulibaly putting a header off the post in the 89th minute for Grenoble.
Lorient 1-0 Nancy - Amalfitano and Gameiro provided all of the pressure that Lorient needed to secure the 3 points. Both hit the post in the first 10 minutes of the match, and Amalfitano also forced Nancy GK Gregorini to tip his shot over the crossbar. Nancy had only 1 shot in the first-half, but Chretien’s effort was easily stopped by Lorient GK Audard. The goal finally came in the 83rd minute when a cross from Abriel was volleyed home by Gameiro. In stoppage time Abriel was unable to double the lead as he shot wide, and Hadji could not rescue 1 point when Audard came up with another save.
Monaco 1-1 Sochaux - Monaco outplayed Sochaux throughout most of the match, but it was the latter club who had more shots on goal and they were able to hold on for 1 point. Sochaux scored early when Dalmat sent in a cross in the 9th minute and Santos took advantage of a defensive mistake to slot the ball home. Within the next 10 minutes, Park had 2 chances to equalize and on his first opportunity he was stopped by Sochaux GK Richert. Park’s second effort was blocked by a defender, but it deflected directly to Alonso who had an easy finish. In the 47th minute Sochaux should have taken the lead through Pitau, but Monaco GK Thuram made an outstanding save. Thuram made another great save on a Boudebouz free-kick just 3 minutes later, and Richert responded on the other end with a nice save on a Pokrivac free-kick. In stoppage time Pitau thought he had an easy path to the 3 points after dribbling 3 defenders, but Thuram managed a terrific 1-on-1 save to tip the ball around the post. Freddy Adu watch: 80th minute substitute, and he looked only semi-lost on the pitch this week.
Paris Saint-Germain - Le Mans - On a cold day in the capital, Paris Saint-Germain took the 3 points to move into 5th place in Ligue 1. PSG almost scored in the 3rd minute when Giuly played Rothen through, but the shot was directly at Le Mans GK Pele. The goal came in the 23rd minute when Sessegnon made a brilliant run and then fed Hoarau for the easy finish. Le Mans equalized in the 30th minute when Cerdan volleyed home Coutadeur’s free-kick. But Hoarau struck again in the 39th minute after a well-weighted pass from Giuly. Le Mans provided a little more pressure in the second-half, with Dossevi forcing PSG GK Landreau into a save and Maiga sending his shot just over the crossbar. Luyindula made sure of the 3 points in the 88th minute when he took the pass from Sessegnon for an easy finish.
So after Matchday 17, the top of the table looks like this: (1) Lyon, with 34 points on a 10-4-3 record and a +10 goal differential; (2) Marseille, with 31 points on an 8-7-2 record and a +12 goal differential; (3) Rennes, with 30 points on a 7-9-1 record and a +10 goal differential; and (4) Bordeaux, with 29 points on an 8-5-4 record and a +9 goal differential.
Written by Darkvader on December 7th, 2008 with no comments.
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The result of the weekend goes to 20th-place Valenciennes, who went nil-nil with Ligue 1 leader Lyon in a torrential downpower in the south of France. Although I guess the true winner of the weekend was the rain itself, which managed to completely foil all attempts to play the Nice-Grenoble match. Ah, Mother Nature, you capricious harpy.
Saturday, November 29th:
Auxerre 0-1 Monaco - Monaco played a technically efficient match, getting off only 4 shots on goal and committing only 9 fouls, but coming away with the 3 points. Pokrivac scored the only goal in the 24th minute, slamming home his shot off the post. In the 36th minute, Monaco GK Roma was injured and was substituted by Thuram (Yohan, not Lillian). Auxerre almost made the back-up pay in the 55th minute when he was beaten by Langil, but Simic was able to clear the shot off the line and the rest of the match saw few chances for either side. In a new Ligue 1 trend, Auxerre were jeered off the pitch by their supporters. Freddy Adu watch: On the bench, 0 minutes.
Le Havre 0-2 Nantes - Winless in their last 6, Nantes finally broke through in a match that featured 44 fouls (22 for either club). Le Havre were on their heels almost immediately, with GK Revault having to backpedal to keep out a well-lobbed shot. The only other significant action of the first half saw Havre GK Alonzo make a nice save on Lesage. Nantes pressured the entire second half, with Capoue hitting the bar early. They broke through in the 68th when Djordjevic hit a brilliant volley on a Moullec free-kick. De Freitas ensured the 3 points in the 85th minute.
Le Mans 2-0 Caen - Le Mans outshot Caen 18-9 (with 7-1 shots on goal), and earned the full 3 points in this match. Caen almost struck first, with Lemaitre forcing a save from Le Mans GK Pele. After that point, it was Gervinho on a 1-man mission to punish Caen, hitting the crossbar in the 20th minute and forcing a save from GK Thebaux in the 27th minute. The scoring wasn’t opened until the second half, when Le Tallec played a well-weighted ball through for Maiga in the 53rd minute for a relatively easy finish. In the 62nd minute Gervinho was rewarded for all of his work when he slotted home the pass from Dossevi.
Lille 1-1 Lorient - Lille dominated the match statistically but was only able to salvage 1 point. They almost opened the scoring in the 4th minute when Fauvergue hit the post, and got their goal just 4 minutes later when Obraniak played Bastos through for the easy goal. Lorient’s goal came in the 36th minute from Rami, who actually plays for Lille. Morel sent through a cross that Rami apparently found impossible to deal with, as he turned it into his own goal. With that, Rami becomes the first OG-scorer to win the “Goal-scorer to get carded award” in a moment for which I am sure he is very proud. Lorient almost got a goal on their own merits when Gameiro came in on Lille GK Malicki in a 1-on-1 situation, but he inexplicably passed the ball to Abriel, who immediately lost possession. Amalfitano had the last chance to win it for Lorient, but he hit the post.
Sochaux 0-0 Bordeaux - Sochaux-Montbeliard managed their first clean sheet of the season, and their 8th draw, despite only holding 39% of the possession. But it was that kind of day for Bordeaux, who saw Gourcuff injured in warm-ups. The match almost opened on a continued sour note for the club, as Erding (who was offside) forced an excellent save from Bordeaux GK Valverde. Things continued to get worse, as in the 36th minute Cavenaghi and Bellion let an excellent opportunity pass, as each thought the other would take the shot. In the 54th minute Valverde was called into action again to save a fine free-kick from Dalmat, who also hit a scorching 35-yard shot a few minutes later that Valverde saved. Bordeaux finally woke up offensively, as Wendell and Cavenaghi forced Sochaux GK Richert into two excellent save in the waning minutes.
Lyon 0-0 Valenciennes - It was 1st-place Lyon against 20th-place Valenciennes, and the torrential downpour turned the pitch into a mudslide which favored the underdogs. Despite facing 31 shots (8 on goal) and having to defend against 11 corner kicks, the basement-dwellers held on for the nil-nil draw and 1 point. Lyon began the match with Juninho suspended and Benzema injured, but it was truly the elements that kept their offense stagnant. Valenciennes had the best shot of the first half, with Audel focing Lloris into a good save. Lyon then saw poor shots from several of their players, with Ederson and Makoun shooting wide, Govou allowing Valenciennes GK Penneteau to make an easy save, and Fred shooting over the crossbar. The second half of the match was an absolute sham, as passes stopped in the middle of puddles and it was impossible to tell if either club had started in white kits. Fred had one last chance to claim the 3 points, but Penneteau was equal to the task.
Sunday, November 30th:
Nancy 1-2 Saint-Etienne - Saint-Etienne put 8 shots on goal and held 69% of the possession, deservedly coming away with the 3 points. The club scored early, when Machado hammered a free-kick into the top-left corner in the 8th minute. They continued the pressure, with Matuidi forcing a save from Nancy GK Bracigliano in the 12th minute and Benalouane shooting just wide 1 minute later. Nancy had their first chance in the 31st minute when Hadji shoot just wide of the post. The rest of the match became a display of one-upmanship between Hadji and Gigliotti, with the latter scoring on the break in the 43rd minute. In the 55th minute, Bracigliano received a red card for taking Gigliotti down in the box, but Gomis missed the resulting PK. In the 75th minute Dia received a well-headed pass from Hadji and slotted the ball home to pull one goal back for Nancy. Just 3 minutes later, Hadji almost equalized himself, shooting just wide of the post. Nancy had two more good chances in the final 5 minutes, but both times Macaluso had his shots blocked by the Saint-Etienne defense.
Toulouse 0-0 Marseille - Despite outshooting Toulouse 16-6 and holding 63% of the possession, Marseille were only able to take 1 point from the match, meaning they have taken only 2 points of a possible 9 in their last 3 matches when all 9 points would have had them in 1st place. L’OM started quickly, with Bonnart forcing a save from Toulouse GK Carrasso in the 15th minute. Just one minute later it was Marseille GK Mandanda making the save on a header from Capoue. There was a lull in the action until the 41st minute, when a corner from Ziani was headed by Zubar to Niang, forcing an outstanding close-range save from Carrasso. In the second half Mathieu provided pressure for Toulouse, shooting just over the crossbar and then passing to Gignac, forcing a save from Mandanda. Marseille could have snatched the 3 points in injury time, but Niang hit the side netting.
Rennes 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain - Rennes continued their strong form of the past few weeks, taking all 3 points from an inconsistent PSG. Sessegnon almost opened the scoring for the club from the capital in the 4th minute, but he put his shot over the crossbar. In the 26th minute, Pagis responded with a 20-yard strike that forced a brilliant diving save from PSG GK Landreau, who tipped the shot onto the bar. The goal came in first-half injury time when Cheyrou hit a 25-yard shot that somehow beat the PSG defense and Landreau to roll into the bottom corner. PSG almost equalized through Rothen in the 55th minute, but Rennes GK Douchez made the save. Douchez was called upon again in the 67th minute, when he made an excellent point-blank save on Kezman. The last chance of the match for either club came in the 75th minute when Danze hit the post for Rennes.
So, after matchday 16 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Lyon, with 34 points on a 10-4-2 record and a +11 goal differential; (2) Rennes, with 29 points on a 7-8-1 record and a +10 goal differential; (3) Marseille, with 28 points on a 7-7-2 record and a +11 goal differential; and (4) Nice, with 28 points on a 8-4-3 record and a +6 goal differential.
Written by Darkvader on November 30th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Ligue 1 and Results and The NY Kid and le championnat.
<img src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gEYqZAr4wc0/STLs5jrJ26I/AAAAAAAAB9c/un5vJEMTq9w/s320/_45254885_djourou_getty.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
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Arsenal’s up and down season is in the ascendancy again after Robin van Persie struck twice in three second-half minutes to stun Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Johan Djourou turned Jose Bosingwa’s cross into his own net after 31 minutes to give Chelsea the lead as Arsenal’s title challenge looked to be in danger of suffering a potentially fatal blow.
And then, with Chelsea the dominant force, Van Persie delivered two crucial blows to earn Arsene Wenger’s side a priceless victory.
He looked well offside when he drilled home the equaliser after 59 minutes, then was on target again on the turn to complete a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Arsenal are turning into the Premier League’s great enigmas, responding with victories against Manchester United and now Chelsea just when they were being written off as serious title contenders.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are suffering at the place that was once their greatest strength - Stamford Bridge.
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Wenger praises Arsenal spirit
After four years of impregnability at home, Chelsea have now lost to Liverpool and Arsenal this season and have won only three out of eight league games at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal knew they could not afford to slip up if they were to maintain a serious title challenge, and they started with real attacking intent.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was in action in the 13th minute, plunging to save from Samir Nasri’s low shot, with William Gallas - taunted mercilessly by the home fans - just failing to apply a crucial touch from the rebound.
Cesc Fabregas then tested Cech again before Chelsea demonstrated their threat, with a slick exchange between Frank Lampard and Deco almost creating an opening for Nicolas Anelka.
Arsenal’s early promise was then undermined when they conceded the sloppiest of goals just after the half hour.
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia gifted Chelsea possession with a wayward throw, and when Bosingwa drove in a dangerous low cross from the right, Djourou could only slide the ball into his own goal at the near post.
In contrast to his strike partner Adebayor, Van Persie had been industrious and he tested Cech with a shot on the turn as Arsenal looked to fashion a quick response to Chelsea’s goal.
Arsenal’s carelessness at the back almost allowed Lampard to double Chelsea’s advantage six minutes after the break, the England midfield man failing to make a proper connection with an opening on the edge of the box.
Wenger’s side needed a lifeline from somewhere, and they were thrown one by the officials as they equalised in dubious circumstances just before the hour.
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Scolari unhappy with officials after defeat
Van Persie looked well offside as he was found inside the area by Denilson’s pass, and as Chelsea waited for a flag that never came the Dutch striker flashed an emphatic finish high past Cech.
And a remarkable turnaround was complete three minutes later when Van Persie struck against to put Arsenal in front.
Adebayor rose to head down Fabregas’ free-kick, and Van Persie produced a stunning low finish to beat Cech again.
Chelsea, inevitably, pressed but Arsenal looked just as likely to add a third, with Cech saving well from Denilson deep in injury time.
Arsenal boss Wenger celebrated with his staff at the final whistle, an indication of just how important he feels this victory can be.
Chelsea’s fans, in contrast, greeted the final whistle with jeers.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, A Cole, Mikel (Malouda 69), Deco (Stoch 81), Ballack, Lampard, Kalou, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Bridge, Ferreira, Mineiro, Alex.
Booked: Terry, Ivanovic.
Goals: Djourou 31 og.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Djourou, Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Song Billong, Nasri, Adebayor (Bendtner 83), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre, Wilshere, Gibbs.
Goals: Van Persie 59, 62.
Att: 41,760.
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
man of the match: Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie (8.01 on 90 minutes).
Written by Darkvader on November 30th, 2008 with no comments.
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Paris Saint-Germain get the result of the week, handing Lyon only their 2nd Ligue 1 loss of the season. The match itself was chock full of shenanigans, which you can discover after the jump.
Saturday, November 22nd:
Bordeaux 1-1 Rennes - Once again Bordeaux dominated a match statistically but was unable to pull out more than a single point. The club started off the match quickly, getting a nice combination from Wendel to Chamakh in the 14th minute, but the resulting header was saved by Rennes GK Douchez. Bordeaux GK Valverde then shot his team in the foot in the 20th minute when his clearance hit Rennes striker Thomert and rolled into the goal. Valverde made up for his gaffe in the 27th minute when he made a brilliant 1-on-1 save on Briand, and followed that up with another great save on a Mangane volley. Mangane was then involved on the wrong end in the 60th minute, when he and Douchez had a serious miscommunication which allowed to Gourcuff to charge in and slot home the easy chance. In the waning minutes Gourcuff and Cavenaghi twice combined to force Douchez into saves to preserve the tie.
Caen 1-0 Auxerre - Auxerre dominated this match early, and in the 6th minute Hengbart sent in a nice cross to Hafni who shot over the crossbar. In the 29th minute Nivet almost scored, but his header was kept out by Auxerre GK Riou. The lone goal of the match came in the 57th minute when Lemaitre slotted his header past Riou. Auxerre almost rescued the point in the 65th minute when Niculae beat Caen GK Plante, but the ball was cleared off the line by Sorbon.
Grenoble 0-0 Le Havre - In a matchup of clubs moving (slightly) in opposite directions, Le Havre escaped the relegation zone while Grenoble now has zero wins in their last five matches. Havre started off better, with Lesage getting the first shot on goal in the 1st minute, although it was straight into Grenoble GK Wimbee. The pressure from Grenoble then came through Courtois, who forced Havre GK Revault into two nice saves in the span of a few minutes. The best chance of the match came for Grenoble in the 66th minute when Djadjedje sent in a cross to Akrour, who put the resulting shot over the bar. Wimbee was called upon to make a final save when an Idir free-kick into Nestor was placed on goal.
Lorient 1-0 Toulouse - Lorient played surprisingly well in this match, forcing Toulouse into 27 fouls. The pressure started early, when Vahirua forced a save from Toulouse GK Carrasso in the 7th minute. The first legitimate threat on goal for Toulouse did not come until the 30th minute when Mathieu hit the post with his header. In the second half, Didot provided the pressure, hitting the post in the 50th minute and forcing a great save from Lorient GK Audard off a free-kick in the 52nd minute. Just one minute later, Audard made a great save off a brilliant diving header by Capoue. The breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute on a counter-attack when Abriel sent in a nice cross for Gameiro to finish.
Saint-Etienne 0-1 Nice - Saint-Etienne took 19 shots (5 on goal), and had 65% of the possession, but it was Nice who picked up the 3 points, winning their 4th in a row. In the 9th minute, Hellebuyck took an excellent free-kick that forced Saint-Etienne GK Jadot into a save. But it was Saint-Etienne who almost scored first when an Ilan volley beat Nice GK Letizi in the 14th minute, only to be cleared off the line by Bamogo. Echouafni broke the deadlock with a header in the 20th minute, and Nice then sank into a mostly defensive posture. Gomis had three excellent chances, putting a shot just outside the post in the 30th minute, having a volley saved by Letizi in the 46th minute, and then missing an easy header, but the Saint-Etienne (and Les Bleus) striker was booed off the pitch when he was substituted. His day was almost made worse when his substitute Gigliotti almost rescued 1 point in the 92nd minute, forcing yet another save from Letizi.
Valenciennes 2-2 Sochaux - Valenciennes gaffer Kombouare received the dreaded vote of confidence during the week, and he watched his side struggle in this battle of relegation zone clubs. His club almost gave up an early goal in the 10th minute when Tulasne lobbed Valenciennes GK Penneteau, but the shot went just wide. They did not get a chance of their own until the 37th minute, but Belmadi’s shot was well-saved by Sochaux GK Richert. Disaster struck two minutes later when Erdinq picked off a soft backpass and scored to put Sochaux ahead 1-0. But Valenciennes fought back in the 2nd half, with Saez poking the ball through Richert’s legs during a goal-mouth scramble in the 63rd minute, and Audel hitting a stunning volley in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, Sochaux struck in the 87th minute when Privat (who takes home this week’s “Goal-scorer to get carded” award by default) headed the ball past Penneteau.
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Lyon - Although the offensive pressure was even for both clubs, Lyon committed 21 fouls to only 10 for PSG as they fell for only the 2nd time in the Ligue 1 season. Lyon started off dominant, with Ederson and Benzema forcing early saves from PSG GK Landreau, but it was mostly downhill from there. In the 12th minute, Reveillere was stretchered off with a knee injury, and Lyon were forced to bring on Kolodziejczak in his first appearance. PSG struck in the 25th minute when Giuly headed home the cross from Ceara to provide the 1-0 lead. In the 35th minute, Kallstrom stole the ball from Makelele and provided Govou with a set-up, but Landreau made an excellent save. Then things got even worse for Lyon. Juninho (who coach Claude Puel had on the bench yet again) came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute and immediately sent a volley over the crossbar. Just 15 minutes later, he received a straight red card for a nasty tackle on Armand. Despite being down to 10 men, Lyon almost equalized in the 86th minute, but the shot from Fred was well-saved by the busy Landreau.
Sunday, November 23rd:
Monaco 3-0 Le Mans - Monaco bossed Le Mans all over the pitch and came away with the 3 points. Le Mans GK Pele was first called into action in the 13th minute on a shot from Adriano, followed shortly by Monaco GK Roma making a nice save on Le Tallec. In the 38th minute Baal took down Licara in the box, but Cuffre was unable to capitalize for Monaco, sending the PK over the crossbar. His club responded well in the second half, as the scoring was opened in the 49th minute when Alonso received a pass from Park and then dribbled two defenders to push the ball past Pele. Just one minute later Meriem sent a free-kick into the box, and Andre unfortunately headed the ball into his own goal. Three minutes after that the scoring was complete, as Licata hit a thunderous volley past the flat-footed Pele. Le Mans almost salvaged some pride with a goal in the 81st minute when Thomas volleyed a Coutadeur cross, but Roma was equal to the task. Freddy Adu watch: Freddy was a 90th substitute. I mean, seriously, why bother?
Nantes 0-1 Nancy - Nantes took 19 shots and Nancy committed 20 fouls, but it was the latter club who came away with the win. In the 8th minute a long throw from Rory Delap N’Daw went into Klasnic, whose shot hit the Nancy post. N’Daw then played Bagayoko through, but Nancy GK Bracigliano made a nice save. Bagayoko then hit the post twice, and sent a shot just wide in the remaining minutes of the first half. At the start of the second half N’Daw had his shot saved by the busy Bracigliano, and Moullec put the rebound wide. Klasnic then shot wide from 30 yards, as Nantes continued to waste chances. They paid for their inability to score in the 74th minute when Hadji headed in a nice cross from Berenguer.
Marseille 2-2 Lille - In a fairly even match overall, Lille looked to take the 3 points early only to allow Marseille to equalize at the death. Lille started strong, with Hazard’s 25-yard shot in the 2nd minute forcing a save from L’OM GK Mandanda. They capitalized on some hesitant defending in the 11th minute when Rami got up for a header to give Lille the 1-0 lead. Samassa almost equalized immediately for Marseille, but his shot just skipped over the crossbar. In the 25th minute the club hit the bar again as Niang blasted a shot from 30 yards. Lille opened up a 2-0 lead in the 37th minute when Bastos capitalized on yet more defensive shenanigans. Debuchy swung in a well-taken free-kick, and Mandanda came out for the ball. Unfortunately for him, Zubar attempted to head the ball back to his keeper, resulting in the ball lobbing Mandanda for the easy finish for Bastos. Marseille began the climb back in the second half, scoring in the 47th minute when Samassa headed home a cross from Bonnart. Lille GK Malicki and Mandanda then traded saves on Cheyrou and Bastos, respectively. The match turned up the heat in the final 10 minutes, as Lille received 4 yellow cards (Mavuba, 80th minute; Malicki, 86th minute; Chedjou, 91st minute; and Cabaye, 91st minute). Unfortunately for Lille, the downhill spiral didn’t stop there, and they watched a free-kick from Zenden in the 92nd minute sail through the wall and into the goal to salvage the point for Marseille.
So, after Matchday 15 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Lyon, with 33 points on a 10-3-2 record and a +11 goal differential; (2) Nice, with 28 points on an 8-4-3 record and a +6 goal differential; (3) Marseille, with 27 points on a 7-6-2 record and a +11 goal differential; and (4) Rennes, with 26 points on a 6-8-1 record and a +9 goal differential.
Written by Darkvader on November 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Ligue 1 and Results and The NY Kid and le championnat.
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