Rennes plays with fire

A first half controlled and materialised by a 3-0 lead at the break, a second half spent suffering the game with Caen scoring twice within a few minutes: Against the Normans, Rennes played with fire, even though they had started the game in the best of ways. At the 3rd minute, Antonetti’s men obtained a good free-kick after acceleration by Pitroipa, who had managed to eliminate two Caennais. Boukari connected with Féret’s delivery and opened the score (1-0, 5’). Caen was surprised immediately, and Kembo even missed the 2-0 a few minutes later (8’)

Costil in top form

The following minutes would be more satisfaction for the Bretons. Tripped by Kembo in the penalty area, Raineau earned a penalty, pushed away by Costil (11’). The former Sedan-man would be one of the key players on the night but, at this moment of the game, Rennes was still on top and kept applying the pressure on Caen, especially thanks to a good pressing at midfield. As for the Normans, they struggled to clear their area and get the ball out properly.

As the game went, however, Stade Rennes would find it more and more difficult to approach the Caen goal. Caen profited of it, but they stumbled several times on an excellent Costil. At the 35th minutes, the Rennes keeper managed a great reflex save with his right foot on a shot by Niang. A minute later, he deflected another Norman shot in corner. Then, on the next phase of play, Mangane cleared the ball on his goal-line (37’). There was heavy pressure in front of the Rennes goal, with the defence showing worryingly passive.

Rennes score at the best time

Rennes was suffering, but managed to score at the best of times. At the 41st minute, Pitroipa accelerated on the right wing and crossed twice for Kembo, who fluffed his shot but still managed his second goal of the week at the Route de Lorient (2-0, 41’). Then, on a corner, Mangane blasted a header against the crossbar. After hitting the bar, the ball bounced inside Thébaux’ goal and out again (3-0, 45’). Despite a few instants of confusion, Stade Rennes has their third goal. For Caen, the score line was harsh and difficult to accept.

Back from the dressing room, the Rennais were in the attack again, but they were either denied by Thébaux (Boukari, 46’), or they gave too much angle to their shots (Féret, 51’; Pitroipa, 56’).But despite the appearances, it was Antonetti’s men who were on the back-foot in this second half. In three minutes, Caen would reduce the score twice, and found renewed hopes to bring some points from the short trip to Brittany.

An apathetic Rennes defence

The Normans would score through a Heurtaux header first (3-1, 58’), then by Bulot (3-2, 61’), from an offside position. On each of the two goals, the Rennes defence had shown extreme passivity. It would show too slow once again on a free-kick from Fajr, slightly deflected by Hamouma and saved by Costil (70’). The Rennes goalkeeper would be consistently tested in the last half hour. On the 72nd minute, a header by Nivet went just wide and then, at the 76th, Hamouma’s shot flew over the cross bar. The Rennes defence was apathetic.

Stade Rennais were spectators in that game, and still managed to waste a few counter-attack chances, when Tettey totally miscued his cross, or when on a four against two counter-attacks led by Pitroipa, the Burkinabe confused himself in his dribbles and forgot his team-mates (87’). Although Antonetti’s men had been in control in the first half, they suffered in the second and scared themselves. Rennes, who earned their first home victory in the league since February 26th, is still a work in progress.

Match Facts

STADE RENNAIS FC 3 - 2 SM CAEN (half-time : 3-0)

Ligue 1, Game Week 4
Sunday, August 28th 2011, 17:00

Stade de la Route de Lorient
Attendance : 19 715 spectators

Referee : Philippe Malige

Goals : Boukari (5’), Kembo (41’), Mangane (45’) for Rennes. Heurtaux (58’), Bulot (61’) for Caen.

Yellow Cards : Kembo (12’) for Rennes. Hamouma (78’) for Caen.

- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Danzé (cap), Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Mavinga - M’Vila, Mandjeck (Tettey, 70’), Féret - Pitroipa, Boukari (Dalmat, 66’), Kembo (Montaño, 58’).

Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.

- SM Caen : Thébaux - Vandam, Leca, Heurtaux, Raineau - Fajr, Seube (cap) - Hamouma, Nivet (Proment, 74’), Bulot (Tandia, 79’) - Niang (Traoré, 46’).

Manager : Franck Dumas.