Ghanaian youth defender Nathaniel Adjei delivered a standout performance despite FC Lorient's narrow 1-0 loss to Pau FC in French Ligue 2 action on Tuesday night.

Lorient, eager to return to winning ways after a 1-1 draw with Metz FC in their previous fixture, were undone by a first-half goal from Senegalese forward Pathé Mboup at the Nouste Camp.

Pau FC opened the scoring in the 34th minute, leaving Lorient chasing an equalizer before the halftime whistle.

The situation worsened for the visitors just six minutes later when Moroccan defender Montassar Talbi was shown a red card for dangerous play, reducing Lorient to 10 men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Lorient remained resolute, with Adjei emerging as a key figure at the back.

The 22-year-old Ghanaian defender was pivotal in keeping the hosts from extending their lead, consistently thwarting Pau's attacking advances.

Adjei's defensive awareness and leadership shone through as he made crucial interceptions and maintained the highest passing accuracy among his teammates.

His efforts earned him the highest rating in the Lorient squad, finishing the match with an impressive score of 7.8.

After missing preseason due to injury, Adjei has quickly re-established himself in the starting lineup with solid performances.

Currently sitting two points behind league leaders FC Metz with 10 points, FC Lorient will look to bounce back when they host AC Ajaccio on Friday, September 27, 2024, with Adjei expected to retain his place in the lineup.