1st Team

Domzale 1-1 OM: Favourable tie...

Posted by
Frédéric Rostain
On Thursday 17 August 2017 at 11:00

For this Europa League away match, Rudi Garcia, deprived of Rolando and Payet due to injury, decided to play Sertic in defense next to Rami and put his trust in Ocampos, a player very much in shape at the start of this season.
If OM basically had the qualification for the next round in the bag as the away game came to a close against Ostend, this certainly was not the case for the match against Domzale. Everyone must wait until the home match next Thursday at the Orange Vélodrome, to see whether OM will definitely make it through to the group stage. The Olympiens indeed fell against a determined team, ever-cautious in its efforts and especially very courageous. Unfazed by the event or pressure, Simon Rozman's men threw themselves headstrong into the battle. From the second minute, Repas, future player of SM Caen, was playing awkwardly, a center back. The first alert could have been more dangerous but the stage was already set...
Two minutes later, Rami's goal was ruled out for offside. Domzale rode their luck gallantly and vigourously played their game. The Slovenians surprised OM and scored with a free-kick routine thanks to Vetrih. Immediately after, Firer's half-volley is pushed away by Mandanda. In difficulty facing a very solid unit, Rudi Garcia's players struggled against Domzale but they managed to reverse the trend. Firstly by being deprived of the ball. In the last quarter hour, they had four opportunities to draw level but the lack of technical accuracy and the opposing goalkeeper, Milic, delayed this for Evra, Sanson and Thauvin twice.

From the first few minutes of the second half, it was clear that OM got back into their stride. However, Domzale were giving away little ground. Firer and Repas were close to doubling their team's score, but the Olympiens (re)gained control of the game and were again denied a goal, again from Rami, for offside. After a nice three-way exchange between Lopez, Thauvin and Sanson, the best forwarder of Ligue 1 2016-17, gets past Milic with a cross-shot. The goal brought OM back in the game and Rudi Garcia reinvigorated his team by bringing on Njie, Zambo Anguissa and Cabella. But in the face of an ever more compact side, especially after the equalizer, the Olympians had difficulty in breaking the deadlock and could not snatch victory.
With a draw during their away game, OM is in a favorable position to qualify but they must be wary of Domzale and do a little more in several areas in order to get to the group stage ...