FC Annecy suffered a 2-1 defeat to Dijon FCO this Saturday, September 18th, in Ligue 2 BKT, a result that halts their positive momentum. The home side had taken the lead through Clément Billemaz before Júlio Tavares struck twice for the visitors.
The match began with both teams lining up in a 4-2-1-3 formation. Annecy's manager selected an attacking starting eleven, looking to build on his team's good form. The early action was congested in midfield, with few clear chances for either side in the opening half-hour.
Clément Billemaz finally broke the deadlock for Annecy in the 41st minute. The attacking midfielder finished off a well-worked team move to give his side the advantage. “It was a good team goal,” Billemaz stated simply after the game.
Dijon's response
Dijon responded after the break, increasing the pressure on the Annecy defence. Júlio Tavares equalised in the 77th minute from an assist by Adel Lembezat. The experienced forward then completed his brace just five minutes later, in the 82nd, sealing the match's outcome. This quick double completely shifted the momentum of the game.
Annecy tried to react by introducing several substitutes late on, but failed to create another clear-cut opportunity. The team lacked precision in the final third during the closing minutes, letting points slip at home.
The league context
This loss comes as Annecy were sitting in 6th place in the Ligue 2 table with 10 points prior to this match. The club had strung together a win against Grenoble and a draw with Metz in the previous rounds.
The schedule does not let up, with an important away trip to Dunkerque scheduled for October 9th. Dunkerque currently sit in 12th position. Preparation for that fixture begins immediately. The squad must quickly move on and rediscover the defensive solidity that saw them start the season well. The technical staff will analyse the footage from this match to prepare for the next away game.
The original report is at tntsports.co.uk
