Nantes defeat Rennes to claim Brittany derby
PARIS: Promoted Nantes continued their fine start to the Ligue 1 campaign with a display reminiscent of the style that made them eight-time champions as they defeated Rennes 3-1 yesterday.
The afternoon kick-off at Rennes’s Stade de la Route de l’Orient produced a feisty Brittany derby that was eventually taken over by the ‘ Canaries’ thanks to strikes from Filip Djordjevic, Serge Gakpe and an injury time clincher from Lucas Deaux.
The win lifts Michel Der Zakarian’s side up to sixth place in the table, five points back of leaders Paris SaintGermain while Monaco can reclaim top spot late yesterday with at least a point away to Reims.
“We had a very good first half and produced good play and created good chances,” said the 50-year-old Armenian coach. “We should have been 3-0 up at half-time because we should have had a clear penalty and after we had a black spell at the start of the second half.”
His slick passing formation outwitted their hosts in midfield and which led to Djordjevic’s headed opener after just 17 minutes. It was the 25-year-old Serbian’s fourth goal of the season after putting away 20 in the second division last season. In front of a crowd of some 25,000, Rennes, who suffered only their second league defeat, pushed forward in search of an equaliser only to slip further behind with a brilliant Nantes second on the stroke of half-time.
Togo international Gakpe, cut into the box before turning two defenders inside out and then hooking a low shot around Rennes ‘keeper Benoit Costil and into the far corner.
However with Nantes looking in control, the momentum shifted back in favour of the home side. Nelson Oliveira broke through the back-four on 55 minutes after the ball pin-balled into his path and he made no mistake with his oneon-one duel against Nantes number one Remy Riou.
Der Zakarian’s men then had to endure a nerve shredding finale before Lucas Deaux finished off a counter-attack deep into injury time to make the scoreline 3-1.
“When they came back with a goal, I was a bit afraid,” said Der Zakarian. “We’re growing up in all domains and we’re growing up quick,” he concluded.
In the weekend’s penultimate match, Fabrizio Ravanelli’s Ajaccio side followed their first win of the season against Lyon in midweek with a hard earned 1-1 draw at home to 2012 champions Montpellier.
The Corsican side went behind when Ajaccio-born midfielder Remy Cabella converted a ninth minute penalty before grabbing a share of the points with Ronald Zubar’s header 10 minutes before the break.—AFP