Matchday 5: That’s more like it

By: Sam | August 28th, 2007

Thirty goals in ten matches, thanks so much. Many things to say about this week’s action, including Lyon’s win in the derby against Saint-Étienne, Marseille’s first win of the season, Nancy’s continuing dominance, Metz’s continued not-dominance, and so on and so forth. After Lens’ loss to Strasbourg, we were dumbstruck to find out about Guy Roux’s resignation. For a guy who spent over forty years with one club, it’s sad to see he can’t stay more than five matches with another. Also totally off-topic, but it has to be said, RIP Antonio Puerta. Here are the recaps from the matches, sorry for lack of detail or anything, but I’ve got an assload of things to do and the next matchday is in a few hours. Rock on!

(3) Monaco 3-1 Le Mans (6)
These two sides faced off in what have so far been pleasantly surprising start so far for both. Le Mans looked more than fit in the first half, with Daisuke Matsui scored a wonder goal, volley-flicking the ball behind his left foot and mystifying Ruffier. In the second half, however, Monaco got their act together. Leandro Cufré converted his own penalty in smashing fashion early on, and Jérémy Menez stormed in two minutes later to reverse the lead. The knockout punch was provided by Frédéric Piquionne who plowed it past Pelé after a good service from Menez. Despite the loss, Le Mans is still in sixth and Monaco is on the podium.

(7) Bordeaux 2-2 Lorient (2)
Another clash of sides quick out of the gate turned out to be a ripping match. David Bellion drew first blood for Bordeaux when he was forgotten far post and had the cross went through everyone to him. Rafik Saïfi continued his good form a few minutes afterwards, when he was on the end of a Namouchi break and coolly converted from the top of the box. Bellion missed a penalty midway through the second half, but did himself justice and got his brace when he was again isolated and finished easily. Hamed Namouchi cancelled it out just before the full-time whistle though, when he pounced on a chance that had the ball land at his feet at the top of the area.

(1) Nancy 4-1 Auxerre (17)
Honestly, why Nancy, I ask you? No matter, because regardless of what you or I say, they’re rockin’. On 37 minutes, the machine sprang to life and Francis Chris Malonga Nyatsi and Kim scoring well-orchestrated goals one after the other. Frédéric Biancalini scored an unlikely third early in the second half when his cross was deflected by a defender and went straight into the far netting. Marc-Antoine Fortuné took matters into his own hands and tore down the middle to give Nancy the fourth. Auxerre meaninglessly pulled one back soon after, with Maoulida crossing for Kevin Lejeune who headed from close range, but evidently it was too little too late. On top of the table? Yes please!

(10) Lyon 1-0 Saint-Étienne (12)
Le derby du Rhône! Perhaps the, but certainly one of the biggest derbies in the country, was a game that Lyon was taking quite seriously, after losing two straight to Toulouse and Lorient. And they did what they had to do and nothing more, with Karim Benzema tapping a ball that could have been an own-goal to Tavlaridis after a caveman-like run by Juninho.

(4) Strasbourg 2-1 Lens (18)
Tut, tut. If the season ended today, Lens would be relegated. And the other Racing Club would be UEFA Cup-bound. This inconcievable notion was intensified this weekend, with Strasbourg gobbling up their third win of the season and leaving Lens winless still. Wason Renteria got the ball rolling in the second half with a bullet header. Renaud Cohade got a delicious second on a swell ball from Mouloungui on a fast break. Down but not out, Lens got one back through Sidi Keita who tidied up the area after a little scuffle. Stéphane Cassard was the hero in the end when he magnificently slapped away Sablé’s strike.

(9) PSG 1 -1 Lille (14)
What’s up with Paris? This is their fourth draw in five matches, and they have yet to win. They were lucky to come away with a point here, as well. Jean II Makoun drew first blood for Lille just before half-time, with an arcing header that Landreau watched over his line. In the middle of the second, Pauleta’s penalty was foiled by Sylva, to the Parc’s dismay. But on 87 minutes, sub Pierre-Alain Frau got a service from Clément and slotted the ball past a helpless Sylva to tie the score. A hard pill to swallow for both sides. And also of note: This was the second Offside-specific match ever!

(5) Valenciennes 3-1 Sochaux (19)
There was a frantic start to this match between one side overachieving and another underachieving. Sochaux had the first say on six minutes with Julien Quercia capitalizing on a blunder from VA’s backline. Yacine Bezzaz drew level five minutes later after a blunder from Sochaux’s backline. In stoppage time, Eric Chelle rose above and headed home the go-ahead goal. Steve Savidan chipped Richert for the third and final goal, plunging Sochaux into deeper despair.

(16) Caen 1 -2 Marseille (11)
First off, this was the first Offside-specific Ligue 1 match! OM are the inaugral Ligue 1 Offside head-to-head victors! This came to be when Julien Rodriguez got the slightest of headers on a Cheyrou free-kick to elude Planté. Mamadou Niang got his second in as many matches on a smart play where he waited and waited and finally only had to roll the ball into the empty net early in the second. Caen pulled one back in injury time through Stéphane Samson, who jumped on the ball after a save from Mandanda that found its way to him in front of the gaping net. This was OM’s first win of the season.

(13) Nice 1-1 Toulouse (15)
Just before they got thrashed by the Reds at Anfield, Toulouse went and got another dismal result in the league they’re supposed to do good in. Ederson spanked them in the first half when he found the ball right at the spot and made no mistake to beat Douchez. Téfécé were fortunate when they equalized on 87 minutes through André-Pierre Gignac when he glanced a header past Lloris on a free-kick. Still, it smells like lameness here…

(8) Rennes 2-0 Metz (20)
Who cares about the score, look at the bench. Sylvain Wiltord had to wait an hour to make his way onto the pitch in his Rennes debut. Instead, the spotlight shifted over to Olivier Thomert, who scored les Bretons’ first in stoppage time of the first half, after a stunning passing display. Thomert got the brace nine minutes into the second frame, on a similar goal with lots of passes. Wiltord came on shortly thereafter, and even hit the post twice. Unlucky! Metz’s Cissé was sent off in injury time for a nasty tackle on Leroy.