Embolo continues fine form as Rennes put three past Strasbourg

[p]Unbeaten in their previous four home League games, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/strasbourg/nP6UzIU1/"]Strasbourg[/a] started the stronger and should’ve opened the scoring on 15 minutes with the first clear-cut chance of the game.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] loanee [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fofana-david-datro/08Tbm5oF/"]David Datro Fofana[/a] burst through on goal and rounded the goalkeeper, but he lost his composure and tamely struck the ball at the retreating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ait-boudlal-abdelhamid/EN8G47q1/"]Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal[/a], who made a timely goalline clearance. [/p][p]That was a pivotal moment in the half, as the visitors quickly took control, creating numerous chances. [/p][p]Musa Al-Taamari looked particularly dangerous for Rennes with his pace, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/penders-mike/nyaJupUE/"]Mike Penders[/a] was able to smother his effort after a terrific burst of pace opened up the shooting chance. Despite an impressive first half, Penders was at fault for the opening goal, as a poor kick-out was aimed straight at Sebastian Szymanski.[/p][p][b]The Polish midfielder acted quickly to divert the ball to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lepaul-esteban/GGw2OEMr/"]Esteban Lepaul[/a], who found the bottom corner for his 17th Ligue 1 goal of the season. [/b][/p][p]Penders did atone for that with a strong double save to deny Al-Taamari and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blas-ludovic/Uwj8SaVP/"]Ludovic Blas[/a], but the hosts went into the break deservedly behind. [/p][image alt="Strasbourg - Rennes match stats" id="e216454e-f3aa-4ef1-b399-dcddad95c931" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="ce40d539-a91d-4195-85df-c74ee4a9d1f2" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]Instead of finding a quick response after the break, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-neil-gary/4rSZHs2M/"]Gary O'Neil[/a]’s side quickly fell apart as they conceded two quick-fire goals. The first saw Lepaul turn provider as his flicked a header towards goal that may well have been going in, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/embolo-breel/CpKkPKuP/"]Breel Embolo[/a] made sure as he chested home on the goalline. [/b][/p][p][b]Less than two minutes later is was 3-0, with Al-Taamari finally getting his reward with a clinical finish after being slipped in on goal by an incisive pass from Blas.[/b][/p][p]Needing a reaction, Strasbourg made a triple substitution just before the hour mark, and almost found a way back into the game when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/godo-martial/GllB6ag5/"]Martial Godo[/a] struck the post with a mishit volley.[/p][p]Ultimately, they couldn’t find a way back into the game, and the three points bring Rennes within one point of third-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lille/pfDZL71o/"]Lille[/a], further fuelling their hunt for UEFA Champions League football next season.[/p][p]The defeat further consigns Strasbourg to a likely mid-table finish, as they remain eight points outside the top six, perhaps allowing them to focus further on their UECL campaign. [/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/szymanski-sebastian/QFdaT1Qr/"]Sebastian Szymanski[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rennes/d2nnj1IE/"]Rennes[/a]) [/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/rennes-d2nnj1IE/strasbourg-nP6UzIU1/summary/stats/?mid=8CShQDU7"][b]Check out all the match stats with Flashscore.[/b][/a][/p]