Gameiro, Sylla help Strasbourg beat ten-man Reims

A surging Racing Club delighted their home fans on Saturday afternoon with their third win in four matches, 3-1 over Stade de Reims. The visitors had entered the match on a four-game unbeaten run, and still harbored hopes of finishing among the European places, but the sending off of Amadou Koné just before the break made their task a difficult one.

 Despite almost conceding in the opening minute through Kevin Gameiro, Will Still’s side got the match off on the right foot. They easily spread play and forced Strasbourg ‘keeper Alaa Bellaarouch into several saves, before finally breaking the deadlock on eight minutes and Junya Ito set up his countryman Keito Nakamura with a fine cross. Despite conceding, Strasbourg grew into the game, and dominated possession, with Yehvann Diouf also being called in action several times in the first half, including denying Saïdou Sow at a set piece from point blank range.

Strasbourg’s dominance would tell, though, as substitute Jérémy Sebas was brought down in the box just before halftime. Gameiro, who recently scored his 100th career goal in Ligue 1, coolly slotted home to level the match. Just as it appeared the match would head into the break level, Reims midfielder Koné, himself only on as a substitute, was sent off for a second booking, leaving his team to play the second half with ten men.

✊ @kevingameiro9 ✊#RCSASDR pic.twitter.com/ybQT0qz1Fp

— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) April 13, 2024

Racing wasted little time in making good on that numerical dominance, with defender Abakar Sylla, back in the starting lineup, found the back of the net at a set piece thanks to Dilane Bakwa. It was Bakwa’s fourth assist in as many matches, and it provided the hosts a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, although not for a lack of trying on the part of Reims. The biggest chances still fell to Patrick Vieira’s side, though, and it was all Diouf could do to keep out efforts from Thomas Delaine and Lucas Perrin in the second half.

Racing would eventually find a third goal through substitute Moïse Sahi Dion, who scored in stoppage time to make the final result 3-1, the win lifting Strasbourg further from the relegation zone. With five matches to play, the Alsatians are now on 36 points, ten ahead of Lorient in sixteenth. Reims remain seventh on 40 points, unable to capitalize on Lens’ shock loss on Friday but will have work to do to reach Europe given several of their rivals still have games in hand.