Leader of the U19 championship, PSG probably didn't need that, but won by taking advantage of the gifts offered by LOSC this Saturday. The Lille youth did not lack character, but the mistakes were costly (2-3).
Defeated in the Northern Derby during their last outing, the LOSC U19s were keen to put on a better face this Saturday, on a lawn swept by an icy wind. Opposed to Paris Saint-Germain, the undisputed leader of the championship, this was nevertheless no easy feat. Needless to say, this mission was a failure, under the watchful eye of Antonin Da Fonseca at the start of the match.
Galvanized by the prestige of the opponent, the Lille youth had an interesting first period. The first shot of the game was the work of young Olufade, and his multiple rebounds were not far from hitting the mark (14′). Ramsès Imbondo also tried (19′), as did Ruben Akale, stopped irregularly by the Parisian goalkeeper outside his area. The Lille camp demanded red and expulsion, but the referee of the day decided otherwise (23′). Dominant in possession and suggesting that they had control, the Parisians in reality conceded numerous opportunities. However, it was indeed them who opened the score thanks to an error in restarting the northern defense (27′, 0-1). They even made the break from the penalty spot shortly before the break (44′, 0-2)
following a wandering hand. Ulrich Fokam, very restless, could not upset the established order by missing the target (37′) and LOSC returned to the locker room with their tail between their legs.
The Mastiffs had their teeth on their return to the meadow, the intensity rose to a crescendo, and they chained the opportunities: two, three, four, then a hand once again sanctioned. Impactful and intelligent in his choices, Saad Boussadia did not tremble and sent a powerful shot just below the top corner (49'). This goal marked the end of the Parisian agony, but PSG did not wake up yet. Content with their advantage, it was through a few brilliant moves, counterattacks, that his men now burst forth. On an incursion on the right side of the area, Goffi was beaten and caused a foul synonymous with a third penalty. Merzouk, who was imperious at the end of the match with several repeated saves to maintain the hope of a late equalizer, could not stop the opposing attempt. Generous penalty? Maybe, but converted penalty (60′, 1-3). The Lille residents were truly stunned by this achievement and we had to wait for many minutes before seeing them attack again. It was they who set the fire in the last minutes, with numerous situations and the reduction of Fokam's score on a blocked shot (83′, 2-3). The Mastiffs pushed again and again, in vain, unable to find the target like a final opportunity missed by Antoine Livemont (90+5′), who had nevertheless done everything perfectly.
Stéphane Noro’s reactions
It's frustrated that Stéphane Noro arrives at our microphone, annoyed by the achievements received: “We gave a little too much, especially on the first two goals. These are avoidable goals, but that’s how it is. They didn't have much in the first half. They have two half-chances, and they score two goals. The first one is given to them and the second one is stupid. We make a hand while there are no Parisians in the area. It’s certain that coming back like that at half-time, with these two goals difference without having really conceded any chances”he begins.
The second half was more positive, but the efficiency was not there: “I even think we are more dangerous. There is the action with Ruben (Akale) on which I think the referee should take a red card. And then there is that of Fokam, who was in a bit of the same situation, but did not score. We went for them a little higher today, compared to the wind, which meant that we also had a little more pressure. We quickly get back to the mark in second, but it's the same thing for their third. We had the merit of not giving up, of defending while moving forward. We had two or three situations which could have allowed us to come back to score, but we lacked efficiency, once again. It's a shame. »
The technician hopes, in the future, to see more bite in his young Mastiffs: “There are definitely positives, even if I think we need to know how to show more character. We lacked it throughout the match. We want to play, get the balls out, so that sometimes leads to mistakes, but that's what I ask of them. You have to accept it. This is how we want to play. This will have to be avoided in the future, especially when we are able to reverse the trend afterwards. […] Generally speaking, I find that they did not have any clear chances despite their liveliness on the flanks. But from the moment you give goals like we did today, it inevitably helps the opponent”he concludes.
LOSC 2-3 PSG (0-2)
But(s) : Boussadia (sp 49′), Fokam (83′) for LOSC, Jangeal (sp 27′, sp 60′), Camara (44′) for PSG
Warning(s): Lucea (10′) for LOSC, Sy (23′) for PSG
LOSC: Merzouk – Goffi, Hamidi, Lucea, Diawara – Beret, Imbondo (Apkakou 77′) – Fokam, Boussadia (Hadiri 77′), Olufade (Livemont 60′) – Akale
Coach : Stéphane Noro
PSG : Sy, Boly, Cordier, Tape, Ear, Lion, Bamboo, Coffee, Sangare, Jangeal, Camara
Coach : Arnaud Amaouche
