Nantes 1-1 Stade Brestois 29: Chardonnet’s late punch keeps the Canaries under water

Nantes were seconds from banking three priceless points until Brendan Chardonnet rescued Brest with a 90th minute equaliser, leaving Luís Castro’s men marooned in 17th place.

Match overview

Castro kept the 4-1-4-1 that has become his default, trusting Francis Coquelin as the single pivot and Mostafa Mohamed as the reference point up front. Mohamed rewarded that faith immediately, scoring in the 9th minute after Coquelin found him in the box. Brest, aligned in Éric Roy’s 4-2-3-1, controlled possession yet produced little until stoppage time.

Nantes appeared comfortable through the first half despite forfeiting the ball. The issues began after the break when Louis Leroux replaced Coquelin in the 46th minute. The youngster collected a yellow card in the 56th minute and struggled to match the tempo Joris Chotard and Hugo Magnetti were setting for Brest.

Tactical outlook

Castro’s plan was clear: compact blocks and fast transitions. It worked while the lines held. Once Dehmaine Assoumani dragged down a Brest runner and VAR upgraded his offence in the 63rd minute, resulting in a red card for a professional foul in the 65th minute, Nantes’ midfield screen vanished. Roy reacted with a double switch at the 67th minute, introducing Kenny Lala and Hamidou Makalou to stretch the pitch. From that point, Brest hemmed Nantes in, albeit without generating volume: just four shots all game, but the pressure was constant.

Castro tried to recalibrate with Matthis Abline for Mohamed in the 77th minute and Mathieu Acapandié for Ignatius Ganago at 90+1, yet Brest’s wave finally broke through. Romain Del Castillo, already on a booking from the 45+1 minute, drifted wide and supplied the cross that Chardonnet turned in at the 90th minute.

Key moments

• 9th minute: Mostafa Mohamed scores, assisted by Francis Coquelin.
• 41st minute: Daouda Guindo booked for Brest.
• 45+1 minute: Romain Del Castillo booked.
• 65th minute: Dehmaine Assoumani sent off for a professional foul as last defender after a VAR review noted at the 63rd minute.
• 67th minute: Kenny Lala replaces Daouda Guindo and Hamidou Makalou replaces Junior Dina Ebimbe.
• 77th minute: Matthis Abline replaces Mostafa Mohamed.
• 90th minute: Brendan Chardonnet levels the match, assisted by Romain Del Castillo.
• 90+4 minute: Anthony Lopes booked for time-wasting.

Statistics

• Shots: Nantes 17, Brest 4.
• Shots on target: Nantes 4, Brest 2.
• Possession: Nantes 44 percent, Brest 56 percent.
• Expected goals: Nantes 0.92, Brest 0.42.
• Corners: Nantes 11, Brest 0.
• Cards: Nantes two yellows and one red, Brest two yellows.

What it means

The draw leaves Nantes stuck on 20 points after 30 rounds, still five points from the relegation play-off place. Castro’s next assignment is to steady a side that keeps letting late goals undo promising performances. Brest move to 37 points, staying 12th and edging closer to mathematical safety before welcoming their next opponent.

For more from this Ligue 1 weekend, read Strasbourg vs Rennes or catch up on Metz vs Paris FC.