Coverage:

In an exhilarating Coupe de France clash on 20 January 2024, FC Nantes were ground down by a tenacious Stade Lavallois Mayenne FC in a 1-0 loss.

Despite the home advantage and controlling the match's set pieces with a total of 7 corner kicks against a paltry 2 from Stade Lavallois, the Nantes' side was unable to convert these into goals. Their inability to capitalize on these opportunities could be a significant factor that led to their downfall.

Another factor that imprinted a mark on the game was the offside calls. Nantes were called offside as many as four times, stymieing some promising attacks. On the contrary, Stade Lavallois kept their discipline in the frontline, with just one offside call.

There was quite a noticeable difference in the teams' approach to defense, with Stade Lavallois clocking up more fouls (10) compared to Nantes (7). Nevertheless, these aggressive attempts to thwart Nantes attack didn’t result in any red cards but instead impacted the rhythm of the game, suppressing Nantes' momentum.

Stade Lavallois’ goal, almost an hour into the game (00:59:21 second-half), proved to be pivotal. Notably, the score came just seven minutes after they had been shown a yellow card (00:52:05 second-half), suggesting that they managed to maintain focus in the face of adversity and strike the decisive blow of the match.

On the other hand, Nantes' only yellow card came late in the second half (01:34:25), emphasizing their struggle to break down Stade Lavallois' defense. The late caution didn't impact the game's result, but it underlines Nantes' increasing desperation as they tried to level the game.

In conclusion, the match was defined by Nantes’ inability to utilize their set-piece advantage, remain disciplined in maintaining their attack line, and most importantly, find a way through a sturdy Stade Lavallois defense. Meanwhile, Stade Lavallois Mayenne FC showed us that solid defense, relationship to discipline, and a crucial goal at the right time can be decisive in matches of such high importance.

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