Valenciennes

[Toadhall Saint]

8 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Hello friend.

Firstly, congratulations for your Victory today !

Secondly, end of the match for Valenciennes.

Draw score: 1-1.

Good point versus 2nd of the championship.

Good evening everyone.

Well done on the draw. You have a great one too. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

VA will be happy enough with an away point.

But both teams were very poor, and there for the taking.

VA went down to 10, when the home side hit an excellent ball through the high line of defence. Koum collided into the back of their through player. Not cynical, as their player made sure of the chance of contact, on the way to get the ball. But no arguments either.

VA then conceded a shocker. There's plenty of good reasons to play across the back. To switch the play; to maintain possession; to draw in your opponents. Not because you've no better ideas; when you're not organised; when you've already lost 1 center half and when 2 of the others are 2 feet apart. Cue losing possession, when Sochaux still have plenty in the half from their last attack (another reason not to do it), and going 1 down.

Sochaux really could have had a second. They hit the post and shot wide when a pass would have given them a tap in.

But then VA got an equaliser from a penalty. One of those where a player dips his head into a clearance, and gets a decision. Somewhere, during treatment and waiting for the spot kick to be taken, a second yellow was shown. Not sure if it was for persistent dissent. Appuah, on his way to his own second yellow before being subbed, put it in.

And that was it from both sides. Sochaux hit a post later with an effort from an angle. Other than that, it seemed the goals had been converted into barn doors, neither side could hit.

El Hadary came on, but was particularly poor.

One thing that did stand out, was Abu's good use of VA having a physical presence up front. he picked out sub Nyemb on a number of occasions. Good range and accuracy.