SA's Mothiba strikes but Nimes deny Strasbourg

Lebo Mothiba ended his own goalscoring drought but RC Strasbourg Alsace extended their wait for a win to seven matches as they were pegged back at the death by Nimes on Saturday.

Once looking like racing certainties to finish in the top five, Strasbourg had seen their form tail off badly since qualifying for the Coupe de la Ligue final, and Thierry Laurey's men had picked up just three points from their previous six matches before kick-off.

In those circumstances, an early goal always helps, and Mothiba gladly obliged. The South Africa international, picked up from LOSC Lille late in the summer 2018 window, had not found the net in nine games, but he did not look like a striker short of confidence when he clinically half-volleyed home Anthony Gonçalves cross (9').

?? 9' Oh le GOLAZOOOO de @LeboMothiba11 ! Le meilleur buteur strasbourgeois a le geste juste pour reprendre en première intention le bon centre d'Anthony #Gonçalves. Superbe reprise qui ne laisse aucune chance à #Bernardoni.#NORCSA (0-1) pic.twitter.com/aCKniZmuW5

— RC Strasbourg Alsace (@RCSA) March 16, 2019

Nimes have proven testing opposition on home soil this season, and the hosts hit back with Téji Savanier going close (31') before Anthony Briançon dominated Lamine Koné in the air only to head narrowly wide (44').

An untimely Koné slip allowed Rachid Alioui a clear sight of goal, but Matz Sels pushed out his shot and Lionel Carole came to his goalkeeper's rescue by blocking Renaud Ripart's follow-up (45+3') to preserve his side's slender lead at the break.

Youssouf Fofana appeared to have given Strasbourg some insurance when he added a second goal eight minutes after the restart, neatly sending his shot between Paul Bernardoni's legs after being teed up by Nuno Da Costa (53').

Gonçalves thought he had scored a third only for VAR to spot a foul by Kenny Lala in the build-up (64') and Nimes very quickly took advantage of the reprieve: Hervé Lybohy, an early substitute for the injured Loïck Landre, connected with a Savanier free-kick to send a looping shot over Sels (66').

The pair who had teamed up to net the only goal of the game when the two sides had met earlier in the season had done it again.

Strasbourg resisted Nîmes pressure until the dying seconds when VAR was used to pinpoint a Koné handball — Savanier nervelessly tucked away the spot-kick to end his team's run of back-to-back defeats, and prolong the agony for Strasbourg (90+1').

In another clash on Saturday, Robert Beric provided further evidence of his good form with another goal as Saint-Etienne pressed their claims for a top-four finish with a 5-0 win at Caen.

Elsewhere, Guingamp left it late as Ludovic Blas' penalty five minutes from time gave the hosts a 1-0 win over Dijon at the Stade de Roudourou, lifting the Bretons out of the automatic relegation places at their visitors' expense.

Ealier, Angers were held to a goalless draw by Amiens.

Article courtesy of Ligue1.com