RC Strasbourg Alsace held on to draw 1-1 with Stade Rennais FC on Friday night despite going down to 10 men in the first half at the Stade de la Meinau.
RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-1 Stade Rennais FC
THE MATCH
Strasbourg began the day in 19th, 12 places and points worse off than their visitors and they looked like they might be in for a long evening when the fit-again Faitout Maouassa had an early penalty claim waved away by referee Benoît Millot (7'). But Le Racing soon settled into their stride and took the lead midway through the half when Kenny Lala reacted quickest to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's deflected shot and drilled a low cross into Adrien Thomasson, who finished comfortably (24'). Strasbourg captain Stefan Mitrovic was given his marching orders with half-time approaching after hauling down Serhou Guirassy, who was clear on goal (40'), but Benjamin Bourigeaud steered the subsequent free-kick straight into Eiji Kawashima's hands. Guirassy went off injured sooner after, with Adrien Hunou taking his place (45'), and the hosts carried their 1-0 lead into the interval.
Rennes return fire
Julien Stéphan sent Yann Gboho and James Léa Siliki on for the second half (46'), hoping that fresh legs against his shorthanded opponents would pay off, but Rennes' growing frustration was evident when Léa Siliki sent a couple of crosses badly off-target (50', 54'). Gboho had another chance soon after but his side-footed attempt was too tame to really test Kawashima. It was another Rennes substitute, Hunou, who finally got the leveller. Adrien Truffert headed the ball across goal and Hunou bundled it home for 1-1 (60'). Kawashima himself tried to restore his side's lead with a direct shot from a deep free-kick but his audacious effort span high and wide (67'). M'Baye Niang - Rennes' fifth substitute against Strasbourg's one - headed narrowly wide (75') before a Hunou header found the post (84') and it ended 1-1.
THE PLAYER: Kenny Lala
This share of the spoils would have been impossible without Lala. The wing-back often puts in gruelling shifts down the right flank, but he had to be particularly lively in both boxes here, especially following Mitrovic's dismissal. Lala's assist for the opener was his first this season, but 17th all told since signing from RC Lens in 2017
THE STAT: 4
This was the first time in four games that Strasbourg didn't lose by a one-goal margin. The Alsatian club have been better than their recent points haul would suggest, and will no doubt now head into their clash with Nantes next Sunday with the belief that they can pull clear of the relegation places in short order.
