In Parnassus, USAM won 31-30 against Saint-Raphaël and signed their second victory in this summer preparation. After a successful start, Nîmes saw his opponent come back before passing the second in the second period by showing a better face defensively.
In the inaugural match of this new “Infernal Parnassus Tournament”, formerly “Tournoi du Soleil”, Nancy and Nice were neutralized 30-30. Then place the Usamists who face Saint-Raphaël, after the withdrawal of Sporting Lisbon due to covid cases. Initially scheduled this evening, the tribute to Michaël Guigou for his third gold medal obtained at the Olympic Games has been postponed to September 12 during the first day of the championship against Saran.
It is with the captain of the Blues, but also Desbonnet, as well as with the two Egyptians Sanad and Hesham that the USAM approaches this fourth friendly match of its summer preparation. Rémi Salou and Tesio are still unavailable, Dupuy is hit in the hip and Acquevillo in the elbow. The locals take the game from the right end and quickly lead 4-1 after five minutes with a Sanad who signs a 3/3 to start. Nîmes maintains a lead of two, three goals for about twenty minutes before seeing his opponent return.
Led to the break
Nyateu stumbles on Popescu and the Var people return first to a unit before equalizing then to pass in front thanks to the eternal Caucheteux (13-14, 23rd). The 36-year-old winger, who is close to 1,500 D1 goals, begins his 14th consecutive season at Saint-Raphaël. On penalty, Guigou fails in front of the Romanian goalkeeper and Saint-Raphaël keeps a short lead at the break (18-19). A very prolific first period which shows the permeability of the Usamist defense since the beginning of the preparation.
The Green team conceded too many goals and this meeting started on the same basis as the first three games played with, each time, more than 30 goals conceded: 32 against Aix, 34 against Limoges and 31 against Granollers. Except that in the second period, the Gard defense proved to be more solid and the visitors had to wait for the 39th minute and a penalty from Caucheteux to score in this second act. Nîmes scored a 4-0 carried by these Egyptians returned to form after two weeks of vacation. Came into play, Paul quickly stands out by making four saves.
Hesham, Sanad and Tobie allow the Nîmes to keep a small mattress in advance (26-23, 48th). On the side of rookie Mathieu Salou, it is difficult for him to find the framework. The former Cessonnais misses his first four attempts but finally finds the fault on his fifth try before chaining a second goal. The right-back is still in the process of adapting to the Nîmes game. On the opposing side, Mapu maintains the suspense until the end but Nîmes finally wins by a unit (31-30). A second victory in this summer preparation under the eyes of President David Tebib who followed the meeting sitting at the edge of the field with Benoît Roig, President of the University of Nîmes.
Corentin Corger
Friendly game. Infernal Parnassus tournament. Parnassus. USAM Nîmes Gard – Saint-Raphaël 31-30 (half time: 18-19). Two minutes in Nîmes: Jakobsen (28th). Two minutes in Saint-Raphaël: Petit (7th), Vigneron (42nd).
USAM: Desbonnet (5 saves on 21 shots), Paul (7 saves on 18 shots); Poyet (1/3), Gallego, Rebichon, Nyateu (0/3), Jakobsen (1/1), Gibernon (1/2), Hesham (7/9), Guigou (2/3 including 1/2 in pen ), Salou (4/8), Tobie (5/6), Minel (3/3), Sanad (7/8 including 2/3 on the pen). Coach: Franck Maurice.
Saint-Raphaël: Popescu (3 saves on 22 shots), Demaille (4 saves on 16 shots); Barachet (2/3), Vojinovic, Simicu (2/4), Mapu (6/6), Cais (2/4), Kolakovic (1/2), Caucheteux (7/8), Vigneron (0/1) , Decroix, Gayduchenko (5/8), Paschal (4/6), Petit (0/1). Coach: Dan-rare Fortuneanu.
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