Handed his first start for AS Saint-Étienne, 20-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper Mamour Ndiaye kept a clean sheet in the 0-1 win at Red Star. Head coach Ian Cathro and captain Julien Le Cardinal praised his performance.
The Ligue 2 showdown at Stade Bauer marked Mamour Ndiaye’s first competitive start for AS Saint-Étienne. The 20-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper conceded nothing in the Verts’ 0-1 win over Red Star, according to But! Football Club.
The match came in unusual circumstances: goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur was injured in the previous round against Rodez (2-0) and is set to miss several weeks of competition, according to But! Football Club. Thrust into the starting line-up, Ndiaye seized his chance.
A clean sheet to start
The youngster produced a tidy display. According to Dsports.sn, the 1.90m keeper won 100% of his aerial claims (2 out of 2) and showed sober, cautious distribution, with 52% of his passes completed and 6 long balls played.
AS Saint-Étienne have now gone two consecutive league matches without conceding, the club’s official website points out. Scottish head coach Ian Cathro publicly congratulated his young player on his calmness and maturity in goal, according to But! Football Club.
Cathro and Le Cardinal convinced
The Saint-Étienne coach was particularly complimentary about the Senegalese keeper’s mental preparation: “He understood it was going to be his first start, he prepared for it. He stayed calm, natural, he kept working. It’s a good step for him. I think he helped the team stay calm and balanced tonight,” he told But! Football Club.
In the Saint-Étienne ranks, defender and captain Julien Le Cardinal praised the assurance the young keeper gave the entire back line, Evect reports: “We have confidence in Mamour Ndiaye. We don’t need to make speeches. He showed serenity, and the lads in defence felt it.”
A gesture of support for the fans also marked the end of the match: after the final whistle, Ndiaye went over to the Saint-Étienne away section to give his shirt to a supporter, according to Dsports.sn.
What next in Ligue 2
Thanks to this 1-0 win at Bauer, Saint-Étienne have struck a big blow in the promotion race, Dsports.sn reports.
AS Saint-Étienne’s next Ligue 2 match should see Mamour Ndiaye keep his place in goal, with Gautier Larsonneur still out.