Rachid Alioui’s second-half strike allowed Nîmes Olympique to grab a well deserved 1-1 draw with AS Saint-Etienne in an entertaining contest at the Stade des Costières on Friday.
Nîmes Olympique 1 – 1 AS Saint-Etienne 
THE MATCH
Chasing a first Ligue 1 Conforama win in a month, Saint-Etienne got off to a dream start as they went in front inside 36 seconds. Mathieu Debuchy’s inviting cross from the right was nodded into the net at the near post by Rémy Cabella for his third goal of the season.
Wahbi Khazri then had an effort cleared off the line by home captain Anthony Briançon with goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni posted missing (17′), but most of the chances after that came for the home side.
Stéphane Ruffier was tested from long range on several occasions, including twice from the excellent Téji Savanier in the first half. The home side saw Sofiane Alakouch come off injured before half an hour had been played, but his replacement was Denis Bouanga, and the Gabon winger was a real menace in the second half.
Bouanga hits bar
Bouanga hit the bar in the 67th minute, a sign that the equaliser was coming. The goal duly arrived seven minutes later on a breakaway, Umut Bozok releasing Alioui to run through and finish low past Ruffier (74′).
The Stade des Costières exploded, and how their team deserved to take a point. There was still a time for a scare in stoppage time, though, with Bernardoni making a superb save from a Cabella lob (90+4′).
How Sainté coach Jean-Louis Gasset, a native of Montpellier, would have especially loved to have won this fixture, but his side are now three games without a win, although only Paris Saint-Germain and LOSC have beaten them this season.
THE PLAYER: Rachid Alioui
The Moroccan striker was a star in the Crocodiles’ run to promotion last season, scoring 17 goals. Injuries meant this was his first start in the top flight, but he marked it with a first goal in the elite since he played for EA Guingamp in the 2013-14 season.
THE STAT: 9
There was lots for Nîmes to be encouraged about in this performance, but they have now gone nine games without a victory since winning their first two matches of the campaign.
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