The Football District took advantage of a public holiday, Wednesday May 1, to schedule the quarter-finals of the Coupe de Haute-Loire. We tell you everything about these posters which only concern regional level teams.
It’s a strange week that the players still competing in the Coupe de Haute-Loire will experience. They will play a match during the week, between two championship weekends. This is a parameter to take into consideration for the staff, when we know that many teams are still fighting for the podium or to maintain it, at the end of the season.
Focus on these quarter-finals which will be held on Wednesday afternoon.
US Sucs-et-Lignon (R2) – Velay FC (R1), Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. It’s a poster that will make you salivate, between two teams who have long held the top positions in their respective championships.
Despite the split, we cannot expect an unbalanced match. These two clubs faced each other at the start of the season, during a 5th round of the Coupe de France, played in October in Polignac. The confrontation was very close. Twice, the Yssingelais managed to equalize. Velay FC finally snatched their qualification (3-2) with forceps, thanks to a goal from Jordane Battle in the 80th minute.
We find similarities in the season of these two opponents, who rely on experienced players. While they started very strongly in the championship, the two teams suffered a little more after the winter break. They also suffered the same fate last Saturday.
The USSL fell at home, against a poorly ranked team (1-4), while it was on the podium. For its part, the VFC slipped to fourth position after its loss at home (1-2) against Volvic, who is fighting to stay in Regional 1.
Without great pressure for results in the championship, Velay and Sucs-et-Lignon can calmly dive into the Cup.
The Yssingelais have good hope of taking their revenge, since, this time, they have the chance to receive.
US Blavozy (R1) – US Brioude (R2), Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Here again, a reunion is expected between two teams who have already battled against each other a few weeks ago.
In February, the Carriers qualified for the round of 16 of the LAuRAFoot Cup, in a completely crazy match, in Brioude. While the Brivadois led 2-0 after a quarter of an hour of play, they were overtaken by their opponent in the 56th minute. The residents of R2 had pushed hard to equalize at the end of the game. But Blavozy ended up winning during the penalty shootout (3-3, 2 tab 4).
The return of this poster therefore suggests a nice opposition. But US Brioude will perhaps have the lead in the championship, since it could validate its rise to Regional 1, starting next weekend. For their part, the Blavozians advance with serenity. Maintenance is almost achieved thanks to the success (3-1) obtained against Salaise Rhodia last Sunday. They will be motivated by the idea of continuing the adventure in the Cup to get closer to the final, which will take place on June 15 in… Blavozy!
The winner of this meeting will face the one who triumphs between Sucs-et-Lignon and Velay FC, in the semi-finals.
Brivois Rescuers (R2) – FC Espaly (B) (R3), Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. The FC Espaly reserve team is now the little thumb of the competition. The last District teams and the other Regional 3 teams were eliminated in the previous rounds.
Despite this status, the Espaviots have a card to play and can hope to reach the last four of the competition. They have proven in recent weeks that they are capable of fighting with the teams at the top of the table, in their Regional 3 group. If the Rouge et Noir remain with a defeat at Bézenet Doyet (1-0), this should not not question everything. They have the capacity to hold a formation that evolves on the upper floor.
Especially since the Brives-Charensac team is far from being imperial this season. Because of its lack of consistency, it was even plunged into the relegation zone this weekend, after a big defeat at home against Cournon (1-4).
Will the Brivois Rescuers be concerned by this difficult situation or re-motivated by the idea of getting back on track? Response Wednesday afternoon at the Louis-Exbrayat complex in Brives-Charensac.
Vergongheon (R2) – US Monistrol (R1), Wednesday at 3 p.m. This is perhaps the poster that will appear the most unbalanced on paper. However, nothing will be decided in advance.
The US Monistrol will move onto the pitch of a Vergongheon team which seems to be heading towards the descent into Regional 3. If the Monistrolians have not won their maintenance either, they seem to be in favorable waivers and everything suggests that they will be favorites on Wednesday. Alexandre Assaf’s partners were uncompromising against Saint-Julien-Chapteuil (4-0) and Coubon (11-0), during the previous meetings of this competition.
The USM will want to win again. She who has accustomed her supporters to reaching the final four in recent seasons. The motivation will be all the more important as Monistrol has inherited the most favorable draw, with Brives or Espaly (B) as potential opponents, in the event of qualification.
Lucas Jacquet
