Usually so clumsy in finishing off their base, the Palois scored following their only two attempts on target, which came in quick succession. But he was still behind with 40 minutes left to play. Asphyxiated by talented Toulouse residents, the Béarnaise wall and its sentinel Olliero ended up giving way…
Usually so clumsy in finishing off their base, the Palois scored following their only two attempts on target, which came in quick succession. But he was still behind with 40 minutes left to play. Suffocated by talented Toulouse residents, the Béarn wall and its sentinel Olliero ended up giving way.
A rough first act
Before seeing the awakening of the Toulouse volcano, in the first act, the Toulouse Stadium looked more like a fridge where 22 guys were trying to play ball. Not enough to warm the hearts of the valiant 3,200 spectators. Virgin of real goal opportunity, these first 45 minutes will not remain in the footballing history books. In a bitter and choppy fight, the two teams from the South West only offered duels and a few missed opportunities on both sides, chaining technical errors. The Toulousains tried to assert their status as Ligue 2 cador by taking control of the ball at the start of the game, without worrying Olliero unduly.
On a cross from Healey, the Japanese striker Onaiwu almost takes the ball back from the penalty spot (8th). Opposite, the Palois chain the inaccuracies, in the reminders but also around the surface of Téfécé. This is the case of Essende, less impactful in his discounts than against Rodez last weekend, but especially for Naidji, imprecise in the last gesture. On a perfect cross from Koffi, the Algerian, ideally placed at the penalty spot, fails to control the ball and sees it slip away in 6 m (20th).
The happy opening
On returning from the locker room, the Pau number 24, still as generous in the effort, will make people forget this clumsiness. In the 54th, following a touch from Pau, Essende fights like hell to recover the ball and serves Lobry. The Pau metronome fires an innocuous center along the sideline, which falls to the far post of the Toulouse area. Naidji takes a volley. Dupé intervenes with his foot but sends the ball to the penalty spot. Nisic followed well, triggered his shot from the right, immediately countered by Spierings. The ball flies into the small net of Dupé, caught on the wrong foot (1-0, 54th). The Palois then rush for long seconds towards the kop of the Bearn supporters. Here is the Pau FC in front, against the course of the game, as the Toulousains had returned invigorated from the locker room.
Van den Boomen a fait boom
If they gradually began to emerge from their lethargy, the opening of the Pau score will cause an electric shock to the players of Philippe Montanier: the full-backs become wingers and the midfielders turn into N’Golo Kante. On the other hand, the Palois withdraw a little too much on themselves and waste recovery balls, well helped it is true by an opponent who shows the fangs.
The newcomer N’Goumou, first, fires a shot that passes just above the cages (58th). Then, Alexandre Olliero begins to heat the gloves on an attempt by Van den Boomen (63rd). The former Nantes player will need it… In the 65th minute, it’s Onaiwu’s turn, at the corner of the box, to strike but his shot misses the post. Three minutes later, Spierings advances to the corner of the surface, unleashes a shot deflected from the head by Healey, top scorer of L2. Olliero gets his foot out on a reflex save and sends the ball over the cross ball. The “Showlliero” continues as the Rochelais extends full length and takes out the tap right hand to divert a half-volley at the entrance to the surface of Desler (73rd). The last rescue before the inevitable Toulouse equalizer.
Following a center badly returned several times by the Pau defense, Spierings, in the axis, serves Van den Boomen, back to goal and left free in the area. The flying Dutchman, the best Toulouse player in the match, turns around and finally finds Olliero’s side net (1-1, 78′). Overflowing on the left side in the area, the Englishman Healey has the opportunity to kill the match but once again finds the feet of the green giant Pau (82nd).
