Stade Brestois 29 won their relegation six-pointer against Brittany rivals FC Nantes 2-0, with Jérémy Le Douaron and Mathias Pereira Lage plundering les Pirates' goals at the Stade Francis-Le Blé.
Stade Brestois 29 2-0 FC Nantes
THE MATCH
Brest began the day in 17th, one place worse off than Nantes by virtue of their inferior goal-difference, but they started brightly in front of their home fans, with Le Douaron forcing an early save from Alban Lafont with a scissor kick (12'). Lafont conceded five goals on Saturday as Nantes surrendered their Coupe de France title to Toulouse FC, and he must have wanted the ground to swallow him soon after that chance, Lafont mis-hitting a clearance which allowed Le Douaron to steer the ball into an empty net (18'). Kenny Lala was back in the Brest XI after returning from suspension, and the right-back created the hosts' second, flying up the wing and crossing for Pereira Lage to head home (35'). Mahdi Camara might have added another before the half was out but he blazed over the crossbar (45') and it was 2-0 at the break.
A game of two halves…
Mostafa Mohamed tried to get Nantes going early in the second half, but his shot on the turn was too close to Lafont's opposite number Marco Bizot (53'). Ludovic Blas was the next to try his luck, putting the jets on to fly past Jean-Kévin Duverne before aiming for the far corner, but Bizot got down well to save (54'). Marcus Coco then laid Mohamed off for a volley at goal, but again Bizot was equal to his attempt (59'). Fabien Centonze then sent in a cross which fizzed across the face of Brest's goal (67'). For all their pressure, Nantes simply couldn't make it tell, and the 2-0 loss means they replace Brest in 17th - potentially fatal with four teams going down this season. Brest are now 14th.
THE PLAYER: Jérémy Le Douaron
Le Douaron could have had more than just his opening goal to show for his efforts. A late arrival to top-flight football having been signed from third-tier Stade Briochin in 2020, the 25-year-old now has a team-high nine goals for the campaign, and if Éric Roy's side stay up, will be a large part of the reason why.
THE STAT: 8
This was Brest's first win over Nantes in eight attempts in all competitions. The last time les Pirates got the better of les Canaris was in Ligue 2 BKT back in February 2010, when Nolan Roux and Bruno Grougi both bagged braces in a 4-1 win at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
