The winners in two derby games in the 13th round of the French League were decided after penalty shootouts.
For the first time this season, reigning champion Marseille suffered a loss in domestic competitions. After 12 wins in the league and three in the national cup, Marseille’s winning streak ended in Strasbourg.
Strasbourg defeated Marseille 13:12 after a penalty shootout. The hosts were closer to a win, but Marseille prolonged the match with a last-gasp goal.
Noisy-le-Sec beat Montpellier only after a penalty drama (15:14).
2022/23 French League, Day 13
Strasbourg – Marseille 13:12 (3:1, 2:1, 2:3, 2:4, PSO 4:3)
Strasbourg: Vitrant 4, Petkovic 3, Buha 2, Canovas 2, Bachelier 1, Denux 1
Marseille: Bouet 3, Crousillat 2, Daube 2, Vukicevic 2, Izdinsky 1, Vernnoux 1, Marion Vernoux 1
Montpellier – Noisy-le-Sec 14:15 (6:5, 1:1, 4:3, 1:3, PSO 2:3)
Montpellier: Dory 4, Piot 3, Mustur 3, Kalinic 2, Vasin 1,Spilliaert 1.
Noisy-le-Sec (Cercle93): Petkovic 6, Bowen 2, Krapic 2, Guerin 2, Bjorch 1, Caumette 1, Gogov1.
Pays d’Aix – Tourcoing 10:20 (1:3, 5:7, 0:6, 4:4)
Pays d’Aix: Khasz 4, Rocchietta 2, Vrdoljak 2, Peisson 1, Pirat 1
Tourcoing: Marzouki 5, Draskovic 4, D.Zivkovic 3, Dasic 2, Canonne 2, Kujacic 2, Durik1, Vincourt 1.
Nice – Sete 6:12 (1:4, 1:5, 1:2, 3:1)
Nice: Sterling 2, Irmes 2,Barsotelli 1, Sigwalt 1.
Sete: Furman 3, Vujovic 3, Lopinot 2, Tomic 2, Randjic 1, Sauton 1.
Reims bye
The game in Strasbourg was played this evening, just two days after Marseille faced Brescia in an exhausting game in the Champions League. The visitors played without Andrija Prlainovic and Uros Cuckovic.
Strasbourg was well prepared and highly motivated and deserved the victory. The hosts dictated the pace throughout the match. They earned a 2-goal lead in the first quarter (2:0, 3:1). Strasbourg stretched the margin to three late into the second quarter (5:2).
Steven Vitrant (Strasbourg) Photo: by WP Inside/ Philippe Fretault
Strasbourg’s power engines were young Steven Vitrant and Montenegro’s captain Marko Petkovic.
Strasbourg maintained a 3-goal difference for a while (6:3, 7:4). But after Strasbourg’s seventh goal, the visitors scored three in a row. Misha Izdinsky converted a man-up in the 27th minute and Marseille caught up with Strasbourg for the first time in the match – 7:7. In the remaining time, teams traded the goals. Strasbourg took the lead twice (8:7 and 9:8), but Marseille leveled both times. Strasbourg was just ten seconds far from a win in regular time. It led 9:8, but Thomas Vernoux scored an equalizer with 10 seconds to go – 10:10 and prolonged the match. The hosts were calmer and had stronger nerves in a penalty shootout and recorded a 13:12 victory, while a consolation point went to Marseille.
Noisy-le-Sec edged out Montpellier in the first half of the season (11:10). Th encounter between the same rivals in the 13th round was very similar to the duel in Paris. Noisy-le-Sec emerged as a winner from a thrilling encounter again, but only after a penalty shootout. Montpellier was the team that was in front for most of the time, while Noisy chased the rival. After less than two minutes of play, Montpellier had a 2:0 advantage. Noisy leveled the score at 3:3, 4:4, 5:5, but the home side regained a lead with a goal from Farkas Dory six seconds before the first break. After 11 goals in the first quarter, only two were scored in the second period. Montpellier doubled its advantage (7:5). Still, Noisy trailed 6:7 before the second half.
Midway through the third period, the Parisians equalized (8:8), but Montpellier built a 3-goal lead deep into the third period (11:8) and again in the 26th minute (12:9). The home team’s fans believed that Montpellier would take revenge for the defeat in Paris. Still, the finish of the match belonged to the visitors. They scored three unanswered goals in the last six minutes and leveled at 12:12. Noisy had a man-up and a chance to score a winner in its last possession, but it failed, and the match entered the shootout. The visitors celebrated a 15:14 victory after a penalty thriller. The man of the game was Antonio Petkovic, with six goals (five in the regular time and one in the shootout).
A week ago, Tourcoing beat Montpellier in a 35-goal match (22:13). In the 15th round, Tourcoing played a similar game, this time against Pays d’Aix. Its defense didn’t work well, but Tourcoing recorded a big win, defeating Pays d’Aix by ten goals (20:10). It was a really strange game, with four completely different quarters. Still, Tourcoing led throughout the match. The visitors earned a 2:0 lead and maintained the difference until the first break (3:1). Both defenses weakened in the second period, which produced 12 goals. Pays d’Aix cut the deficit to one early in this quarter (3:4). Still, Tourcoing built a 4-goal advantage (8:4) and maintained it until the end of the first half (10:6). Tourcoing, led by Mehdi Marzouki (5 goals) and Dragan Draskovic (4), ruled the field in the third quarter, scoring six unanswered goals and stretched the margin to ten (16:6). In the last quarter, the teams exchanged goals and Tourcoing kept a 10-goal distance (20:10).
Sete cruised to a 12:6 win over last-placed Nice. Sete finished the job in the first half. Sete had an 8-goal advantage (9:1) late into the second quarter.
1.Marseille 12 games – 34 points
2.Noisy-le-Sec 12 – 31
3. Tourcoing 12 – 24
4. Strasbourg 12 – 20
5.Sete 11 – 17
6.Pays d’Aix 11 – 11
7.Montpelleir 11 – 10
8.Reims 11 – 7
9.Nice 12 – 0
