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Metz and Strasbourg both doubled their points tallies for the season, but neither will be particularly pleased with Saturday’s goalless draw.
Strasbourg started the game on top, with Mickael Pagis in particularly lively form. The ex-Sochaux striker broke free in the box in the opening minute but shot wide.
Then, on 17 minutes, his free kick was parried by Metz ‘keeper Grégory Wimbée, and when the ball fell at the feet of Ulrich Le Pen, he scuffed his shot wide. Wimbée produced a stunning save to deny Pascal Johansen on the edge of the area after he had been set up by Amara Diané’s clever pass.
If Metz did not create a single opening in the first half, they looked the more likely team to score after the break.
Ludovic Obraniak burst through the visitors’ defence on 65 minutes but was denied by a brave save from Stéphane Cassard, then, moments after coming off the bench, Jung-hwan Ahn escaped clean through on goal, only to see his shot saved by Strasbourg’s excellent ‘keeper.
The South Korean World Cup star did his best to inspire the home team and he almost won the match in the dying seconds. Ahn’s 20-yard shot took a wicked deflection and almost fooled Cassard, but the custodian reacted brilliantly and tipped the ball to safety.
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