Evian Thonon Gaillard Rally to Beat Bastia in Pre-Season Friendly
Evian Thonon Gaillard secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Sporting Club de Bastia in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, offering a positive boost ahead of the new Ligue 1 campaign.
Bastia took the lead in the first half thanks to Algerian midfielder Ryad Boudebouz’s strike in the 36th minute. However, Evian fought back after the break with goals from Clarck Nsikulu in the 62nd minute and Koné sealing the win in the 81st.
Speaking after the match, Nsikulu expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and his personal contribution. “It’s nice to get back to winning ways and play 90 minutes,” the 22-year-old said. “We’re happy with what we did in the second half. We’re starting to get to grips with the preparation little by little. We have to keep going like this. We’re gaining confidence. My first goal is good for morale.”
Nsikulu’s importance to the team was underlined recently when he signed a contract extension, keeping him at Evian until 2018. The forward, who trained with Lille before joining Evian’s youth academy in early 2012, made his Ligue 1 debut against Valenciennes in December that year.
Last season, Nsikulu appeared in 19 league matches, scoring twice. Notably, he found the net in a memorable 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on December 4, 2013—a result that stunned many in Ligue 1.
As Evian continue their pre-season preparations, Nsikulu and his teammates will look to build on this promising display ahead of the challenges that lie ahead in France’s top flight.
