Meodon came from behind to beat Cholete 3:2 in the opening round of Division One on Saturday. The away side took the lead before the hosts rallied, but a late goal sealed the result at the Stade de Cholete. The match ended with the visitors moving to eighth and the hosts dropping to ninth in the table — though neither side had a point before kick-off.
Cholete had looked solid in their last outing, a 5:0 victory over Nantes on 26 September. Meodon arrived with similar momentum, having dismantled Orleans 11:1 in their previous fixture. The form suggested a comfortable evening for the home side, and our preview backed them at 68 per cent confidence. The game went another way entirely.
By then the wheels came off for Cholete. They had held their shape for most of the first half, but Meodon picked up two goals in quick succession to turn it on. The visitors worked the channels well and found space behind a back line that had not been tested before. Cholete replied through a set-piece header, but the momentum had shifted.
Meodon have not lost since their 2:6 defeat to Neuilly-sur-Marne in March. The away side kept their heads after going behind and went for the jugular in the final stages. One mistake ends it, and Cholete paid for a defensive lapse in the 78th minute. The hosts were left exposed when their midfield broke down.
The result means Meodon take their first points off the mark while Cholete start their campaign with a loss. Both teams remain level on zero points in the standings, but the gap between them is now one. The season is long, and this was only the first chapter.
