AS Fabregues — Olympique Nimes 2 (28-05-2023)

On our way to Toulouse, to see a rugby game, we visit a game in the Regional 1 Occitanie (Sixth Division) between AS Fabreques and the second team of Olympique Nimes, whose first team plays in the Ligue 2 (Second Division).

We arrive about an hour before kick-off in the small town of Fabregues and kill some time by looking for an ATM. It is gorgeous weather: 26 C, sunny, with a nice breeze. Even pleasant in the sun. We park the car in the shade and enter the stadium about half an hour early. There are only a handful of people yet.

The Stade Jacques Claramunt has only one small concrete stand with space for a few hundred people. Despite the fact that entrance is free, there are only 65 people at this game, including roughly 20 away supporters.

In the 5th minute, the Nimes goalie shoots a poor pass back against the Fabregues striker, who turns around and half-volleys the ball into the goal: 1-0. Quite the start. In the 15th minute a home defender shoots from his own half on goal and hits the post as the goalie is too far from his goal (think it was a pass though).

In the 38th minute, out of nowhere, an incredible through ball finds a Nimes striker who shoots before the goalie can get there: 1-1. This is also the half time score.

In the first 5 minutes of the second half, Fabregues misses two big chances in front of the goal. Although the game is quite decent, there are few chances, in part because the architect at the Nimes midfield is too slow on his final pass and the Fabregues left striker is a drama.

The last fifteen minutes are a bit better. In the 75th minute the home goalie makes two good saves after another. Two minutes later, a Fabregues striker gets the ball totally free in the box, turns, and passes the goalie from close to the goal: 2-1. Deserved as the home team works harder. However, again two minutes later, a quick Nimes attack is poorly defended in the back and easily finished: 2-2.

After that, it gets weirdly rowdy. In the 85th minute, a rough foul leads to a second yellow card and therefore red for a Fabregues player. Against 10 men, Nimes gets stronger. In the second minute of extra time, a long pass from the back leads to a hard shot at the goalie, who drops it, but the consequent goal is offside. Chance after chance follows, but no goal. In the 10th minute of extra time, a long Nimes pass forces a Fabregues defender to foul the striker with a tackle, which leads to a second red card for the home team. Still, with 9 men Fabregues secures a 2-2 draw.

The Regional 1 division is far removed from the Championnat National (even CN 2) but it is still a nice “filler” if you have another game in the neighborhood in the evening. Particularly if the weather is nice and the game free.