Fulgini strikes at the death as Angers beat Nantes

Angers SCO ended a six-game winless streak as Angelo Fulgini struck deep in added time to earn them a 1-0 victory over FC Nantes on Sunday and ease their relegation fears.

 Angers SCO 1-0 FC Nantes 

THE MATCH
With their top scorer Emiliano Sala having left the club the day earlier to join Premier League side Cardiff City, the visitors had been dealt a major blow and Flavien Tait would have added to their worries had Ciprian Tatarusanu not turned aside his early shot (14′).

The offside flag denied Stéphane Bakhoken the opening goal (26′) after he had finished from Tait’s intelligent knockdown, and it was not until after the break that Nantes — who had lost their last three away matches — finally threatened.

Majeed Waris’ low cross found Abdoulaye Touré unmarked on the penalty spot — the rangy midfielder was perhaps surprised to find himself in such space as he miscued his shot, allowed Ludovic Butelle the chance to make a save when he should have been picking the ball out of his net (50′).

The Angers goalkeeper came to his side’s rescue again soon after when he first threw himself at the feet of Randal Kolo Muani and then blocked Waris’ follow-up with a foot (55′).

A VAR review by Benoît Millot saw him reverse his decision to award the hosts a penalty for Charles Traoré’s challenge on Farid El Melali (78′), but there was no reprieve for Nantes when Fulgini strode into the box and sent a shot into the far bottom corner with just seconds left (90+4′).

THE PLAYER: Ludovic Butelle
The veteran goalkeeper was the real hero of his team’s win with a clutch of key saves. Fulgini will get the headlines, but Butelle should receive most of the plaudits.

THE STAT: 2
This was only Angers’ second clean sheet in their last seven home league games.

>> Teamsheet

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