Sochaux vs. Le Mans

Although Le Mans would have the first real sight of goal in this match, Herold Goulon driving an effort just past the post when he perhaps should have hit the target, it would be les Lionceaux who threatened most profusely in the first half.

Stephane Dalmat, who would go off injured early on, was given time to try his luck from distance but was foiled by the safe hands of Didier Ovono, while Vaclav Sverkos had an effort beaten from the line after a goalkeeping error. Ovono quickly made amends for this slip, making a save from Marvin Martin.

Sochaux started the second half in sharper form, a shot from Nicolas Maurice-Belay beaten away by the firsts of Ovono before the goalkeeper denied Vaclav Sverkos from opening the scoring. However, on 63 minutes Le Mans suffered a huge blow when the Czech’s centre deviated off a hand, meaning a penalty to the hosts and a red card for Guillaume Loriot for contesting the decision. Ovono, though, was again equally to the kick, throwing himself wide to block Sverkos’ effort.

Shaken by a great collision with Geoffrey Tulasne, who had only been on the park five minutes, the MUC keeper would finally yield with 12 minutes remaining, beaten by a Marvin Martin shot after Eduard Butin made good ground down the right.

The hosts were certainly full value for their win, and they would cruise home untroubled in the closing stages.