Habib Diallo scored a brace as RC Strasbourg Alsace beat relegation rivals Angers SCO 2-1 at the Stade de la Meinau on Saturday night.
RC Strasbourg Alsace 2-1 Angers SCO
THE MATCH
Strasbourg began the day in 17th, eight points better off than their rock-bottom visitors, and they started on the front foot. Kévin Gameiro had already threatened with a pair of chances (2', 6') before le Racing opened the scoring through Diallo, who pulled away from Miha Blazic to poke home Eduard Sobol's low cross (14'). Faouzi Ghoulam did well to block a Morgan Sanson volley at the back post (27') but the hosts kept piling on the pressure. Dimitri Liénard sent a free-kick over Paul Bernardoni's crossbar (34') before Diallo made it two, sending a looping header over the goalkeeper and another Gameiro attempt had sat up for him following a deflection (42') and it was 2-0 at the break.
Angers fight back
Strasbourg might have grabbed another with the first attack of the second half, but Sanson's volley after a long ball forward failed to dip in time (46'). Ibrahima Niang nearly got Angers back in the game with a moment of inspiration, flicking the ball up and volleying on the turn, but Matz Sels got down well to make the save (55'). The visitors did eventually pull one back from the penalty spot, Nabil Bentaleb converting after Abdallah Sima had been fouled by Eduard Sobol in the box (73'). Angers ended the game with more possession than their hosts but they couldn't make it tell. Diallo headed narrowly over on a hat-trick (84') and it ended 2-1.
THE PLAYER: Habib Diallo
Diallo is now Strasbourg's 12-goal top scorer, pulling him alongside Neymar Jr. Terem Moffi and Breel Embolo league-wide - not bad for a player leading the line for a team at the bottom end of the table. He has sometimes struggled to recreate the FC Metz form that reportedly saw Chelsea bid for his services in January 2020, but on current form, le Racing should be safe this season.
THE STAT: 7
This was the first time in seven visits to Strasbourg that Angers have lost. The last time les Scoïstes were defeated at the Stade de la Meinau was back in March 2009 when the sides were in Ligue 2 BKT. Diallo's opener was Strasbourg's first in this fixture for 284 minutes of football.
