Coming into play a quarter of an hour from the end, Mateo Garcia took responsibility at the end of the game by scoring a decisive penalty. Despite the presence of Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu on the field, it was he who delivered his team, to everyone’s surprise.
Toulouse – UBB, 74e minute. The Girondins lead by a small point at Ernest-Wallona venue in which they have never won in their history. In front of the score since the 19th minute, Yannick Bru’s men have just taken two big blows to the head consecutively, with the try refused to Enzo Reybier for a foot in touch and the try from Peato Mauvaka which brought the Toulouse team closer to the score. The tension is maximum, the premises have possession 45 meters from the Bordeaux-Béglaise line. On a charge from Neti on Poirot, However, it is the Red and Black who make a mistake. Thibaud Flament is guilty of clearing on the side in the center of the field and is sanctioned by Mr. Trainini. On the edge of the pitch, the Aquitaine staff are busy: what choice should they recommend to the players? After a few seconds of hesitation, Yannick Bru orders “Mateo, three!” repeats the manager, signing with his hands.
Matthieu Jalibert, who had taken all the attempts since the start of the match, is behind. Maxime Lucu is on the ground, handled by a trainer. “I took a little hit on the ruck, says the scrum half. We know that from this distance it’s a little more complicated for Matthieu and Mateo is fresh, he has just returned. So we think intelligently. Mateo has a big kick and feels himself taking it. It also allows us to breathe if it doesn’t pass. It’s just a bonus to take it.” The substitutes then help find the tee of the young opener (22 years old), to give it to him. Coming into play ten minutes before this event, anyone who had not played a single minute since the start of the season knows that a lot of pressure is on his shoulders, facing a hostile public. Jalibert pumps it up and Garcia takes his place, launching into his routine, under the whistles of Ernest-Wallon.
He hadn’t played since the start of the season
With his left paw, the former Bayonnais sends a powerful and precise strike. The ball passes between the poles. With his fist clenched, Garcia has just given his team a four-point lead. Not enough to protect the UBB from a converted try, certainly, but enough to protect them from a possible penalty taken by a scorer like Thomas Ramos. This scenario is confirmed at the end of the match since despite the penalties gleaned by Stade Toulouse in the Bordeaux-Béglais camp, Emmanuel Meafou’s teammates never managed to cross the opposing line. The UBB imposes itself amid general astonishment.
Shortly after the match, Yannick Bru returns not without humor on this decisive kick, struck by an unexpected hero: “He is ready to enter the NFL! We are very happy with him, we made a 6-2 bench since he can cover the back and the opening. He is one of our best players against the poles and we knew it could come down to that, it’s great, he took responsibility but we wouldn’t have blamed him if she hadn’t stopped by.” The story is all the more beautiful as Garcia experienced a very complicated start to the season, without playing time, with the arrival of the Irishman Joey Carbery. Bru continues: “The start of the season is not easy for him with the recruitment of Joey Carbery but we do not forget Mateo who was also very important for us last season. He will also have moments to express himself and bring his talent to the team.” If his foot can lead UBB to trophies, some wouldn’t say no…
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