Nantes fall to a defeat as Moses Simon starts

Moses Simon in action for Nantes

Nantes fall to a defeat as Moses Simon starts

Stephen Oladehinde 16:54 - 16.04.2023

Nante's loss leaves them in 14th position on the league table as they continue scrabbling their way out of the relegation zone.

Two goals from Jubal and Nuno Da Costa in the first half gave the home side the advantage in the game but Nantes tried coming back into the game as Mostafa Mohamed pulled one back for the away side. 

They failed to score an equalizer, and Auxerre ultimately prevailed. As a result, Auxerre is now three points above the drop zone, while Nantes is still two points above it.

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How it happened

Antoine Kombouare started with a strong eleven with Moses Simon in the starting lineup for Nantes and Mostafa Mohamed leading the attack. Auxerre manager Christophe Pelissier also started with the same eleven of last week as Nuno Da Costa led the attack for the home side.

The game started with a lot of pressure coming from the home side which paid off in the 3rd minute of the game. Andrei Girotto of Nantes handled the ball in the box, but the referee turned down the penalty appeals and waves played on. He was later called back by the VAR to check the incident and awarded the penalty. 

Jubal coolly slotted the ball past Alban Lafont into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead. Auxerre added the second of the game in the 43rd minute when Nuno Da Costa fired a low rebound into the middle of the goal after the ball broke to him in the box.

The second half started with Nantes stepping up their game. They got their chance in the 55th minute of the restart when Moses Simon sent a deep cross to Mostafa Mohamed who jumped to nod the ball into the net, past the helpless goalkeeper.

Moses Simon who has been a regular starter for Nantes registered his name on the assist sheet but his team was unable to get an equalizer as Auxerre went on to win the game.

The Nigerian forward has five goals and five assists to his name this season and will be hoping his team can stay up and avoid relegation at the end of the current campaign.

Meanwhile, Arsenal dropped vital points in the title race after a pulsating 2-2 draw with West Ham, that saw a two-goal lead blown, a penalty opportunity spurned and David Moyes' men defend valiantly for 45 minutes.