Shirtless, the thirty members of the “Versailles Fans” sing to celebrate their team’s victory. On the pitch, hugs and outpourings of joy multiplied between members of management, staff and players. Having become relegated for the first time this season after its defeat at Marignane (2-0) last Friday, Versailles achieved a success against Dijon which will certainly count in the race for maintenance.
Jean-Luc Vasseur’s team leaves the red zone (10th) and gets some fresh air (three points ahead of 13th). The next two matches against direct opponents for maintenance, in Nîmes (14th) and Épinal (17th), also promise to be crucial.
In the first period, Versailles remained in the match thanks to two big saves from Sébastien Renot on strikes from Ariss (22nd) and Nassi (35th). As a pivot, while he was on the ground, Mondy Prunier scored a real center-forward goal (1-0, 38th). The Haitian international (10 caps, 5 goals), who had not scored since November 26, scored his 5th goal of the season.
Versailles stood out from the restart thanks to a magnificent inspiration from Kevin Nadje, who fired a sumptuous shot from 25 m under the bar (2-0, 54th). Used a little higher up by Vasseur in an attacking position, the usual midfielder scores his 6th goal. Nadje (22 years old), who has just been called up with the hopes of Côte d’Ivoire (3-2 defeat against France), is certainly the best player at Versailles this season. It has been followed for several months by higher level clubs.
“We played it safe and we saw that the pressure was palpable”
Absent for six weeks due to injury, Versailles’ top scorer (7 goals) Mehdi Baaloudj almost made a winning comeback but his cross shot found the post (74th). Versailles had not won at Jean-Bouin since November 26 (4-1 against Épinal).
“We are playing our part and we saw that the pressure was palpable,” recognizes Jean-Luc Vasseur. Our first period was insipid but we had the merit of scoring. Afterwards, Kevin (Nadje) quickly gives us some air. I wasn’t worried after our defeat at Marignane but I’m not more reassured this evening. »
“It’s a moderately controlled match. In terms of content, we can do better. But we also have to remember where we come from. We won one final, there are six remaining. The positive points are that we score in the game and we don’t concede a goal. We are going to travel twice, I hope we will have learned from Marignane’s. »
Match sheet
VERSAILLES – DIJON: 2-0 (1-0).
Goals. Prunier (38th), Nadje (54th).
Warnings. Versailles: Hend (31st), Atikulac (45th).
Versailles : Renot – Leborgne (Lefevre; 88th), Akueson (cap.), Diakhaby, Atikulac – Mendes (Duku, 88th), Teacher, Basque, Hend (Bangoura, 67th) – Nadje (Lens, 88th), Prunier (Baaloudj, 67th) . . . . Entr. : Vasseur.