Sunday January 12, the young people from US Maritime were eliminated in the 32nd finals of the Gambardella Cup by US Avranches. After an intense match which ended with a score of 2-2 after 90 minutes, the two teams had to decide in a penalty shootout. It was ultimately US Avranches who emerged victorious (7-8).
The Maritimes coach, Nicolas Wacrenier, looks back on this meeting and the performance of his players:
N.W. : “Made up of players at 3 category levels (U17, U18 from the U19 group and U18 from the Reserve group), we experienced a real Gambardella match with a lot of emotions and turnarounds.
We started the match very well, we attacked, we brought the balls out from behind, we created 3 good chances before conceding 1 goal on Avranches’ first action in the 18th minute. We reacted quickly by equalizing in the 25th minute on a collective action concluded by Aymane Aouinate.
In the 2nd period, we left with the same intentions, we produced some play, we exposed ourselves to a few counterattacks, including one where our goalkeeper Clément Moulin took us one-on-one. We are rewarded for our efforts in the 70th minute once again by Aymane Aouinate.
We have a match point 10′ later by Alan Pressard and unfortunately, in the continuity of the action, we are crucified following a touch and a ball lying around, taken by the Avranches striker in the 82′ .
We are heading towards a penalty shootout which promises to be epic. We make the decision to change our starting goalkeeper with the young U17 goalkeeper Alban Delassus. An almost decisive choice, after 2 saves offering us 2 match points, one which crashed into the post and one out by the opposing goalkeeper. The penalty shootout brings us to the 11th player who is none other than Alban… The opposing goalkeeper will take his shot and allow Avranches to qualify. »
Morocco