In a match between two teams hopeful of confirming their safety with just four matches to play, FC Nantes and Montpellier HSC played out a one-all draw at the Stade de la Mosson on Friday evening. Akor Adams opened the scoring with his first goal since October before Les Canaris' on-loan forward Matthis Abline equalized just five minutes later. Neither side would score another goal, but the match nevertheless remained an entertaining spectacle as the visitors continued to pull away from the bottom three under the stewardship of Antoine Kombouare.
The hosts took the lead with less than two minutes gone on a brilliant counterattack led by Mousa Al-Tamari. The Jordanian international slipped a brilliant ball across the face of goal for Adams to prod home. The Nigerian, who has struggled with form, was more than happy to have given his side the lead, and to have scored his eighth goal of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats season.
Akor Adams qui retrouve le chemin des filets
#MHSCFCN 1-0 pic.twitter.com/l9tMJewjl7
- MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) April 26, 2024 It wasn't long before the visitors offered a response, though, as Matthis Abline, rejuvenated under Kombouare's managership, leveled the score. Some good pressing by Mostafa Mohamed was rewarded as the Egyptian international picked out Abline on the counter, and the Stade Rennais loanee finished across the face of goal with a sublime outside of the boot finish. The French U-21 international now has three goals in his last four appearances, and has proved a surprising alternative to Moses Simon on the left wing after the Nigerian's season had come to a premature end through injury.
Montpellier thought they had a chance to retake the lead just minutes later as Adams was brought down just outside the box, but nothing came of it. Both sides were starved of real chances from that point in the first half, and the interval indeed came with the score still level. The second half didn't offer much more, with a cross to Florent Mollet at the back post Nantes' best chance. Both sides continued to scrap but the only event of note was the sending of on the hosts' Lucas Mincarelli.
Despite finishing the match with ten men, Michel del Zakarian's side held on for the result, moving a point ahead of Strasbourg and level with Toulouse, but most importantly, nine points ahead of AC Le Havre, who face Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow. As for Nantes, the visitors will be happy enough with a point given La Paillade's recent resurgence, but will be looking over their shoulders, as both the Norman side and FC Metz can gain ground in the race to avoid the drop later this weekend.