Nîmes Olympique moved up to eighth after beating Amiens SC 3-0 in what was the first Ligue 1 Conforama clash between the sides, with Rachid Alioui also scoring Les Crocodiles’ 1,800th top-flight goal.
Nîmes Olympique 3-0 Amiens SC 
THE MATCH
Nîmes were the first to threaten, with Clément Depres taking advantage of a Khaled Adénon stumble before letting fly, but Régis Gurtner proved equal to the striker’s shot (8′). Mathieu Bodmer then slipped Stiven Mendoza through for a one-on-one at the other end only to see Gurtner’s opposite number Paul Bernardoni race off his line to stop the Colombian attacker in his tracks (13′). In an end-to-end first half Depres once again found himself in space in front of the Amiens goal, but this time Les Licornes captain Prince-Désir Gouano got back to clear the danger (26′). It was the hosts who carried a lead into the interval, though. Faitout Maouassa and Depres combined well on the left before former sent a cross into the box, and Denis Bouanga powered home his fourth goal of the season at the second time of asking (45′).
Nîmes make history
Bouanga created the next chance all on his own, powering past Adenon before aiming for goal, but Gurtner turned the Gabon winger’s effort around for a corner (65′). Bouanga was then inches away from making it 2-0 – just a smidgen too short to meet Alioui’s volleyed cross with the goal at his mercy (73′). Alioui took matters into his own hands moments later with Bouanga turning provider for the Morocco striker, who stroked home his sixth Ligue 1 Conforama goal, and his club’s 1,800th in the top flight (76′). Saman Ghoddos kept Nîmes honest with a thumping free-kick that Bernardoni did well to repel (82′), but Nîmes comfortably carried the day, Alioui catching Eddy Gnahoré out on the counter-attack to complete the scoring late on (87′).
THE PLAYER: Rachid Alioui
Alioui is yet to start a top-flight game for Nîmes – his 64th-minute introduction for Depres was the seventh time he has come off the bench for Bernard Blaquart’s side this season – but his two goal-haul, backed up by his 80 per cent pass completion in the final third, suggests the EA Guingamp would be worthy of fuller inclusion in the coming weeks.
THE STAT: 1800
Alioui’s first goal was the 1,800th Nîmes have scored in the French top flight. Four-times Ligue 1 Conforama runners-up, most recently in 1972, Les Crocs may not be scaling the heights of old quite yet, but this win sees them just seven points off the European places, having been 16th just a month ago.
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