the essential
After a complicated start to the season, the Ariégeois of FC Saverdun (Regional 3) seriously worried the Audois of FU Narbonne who play two divisions above. On their lawn at Paul-Fines, the Saverdunois lost 2-1 with their heads held high.
FC SAVERDUN (regional 3) 1 – FU NARBONNE (regional 1) 2
(MT: 0-1). Arbitration by Mr. Benbaka assisted by Mrs. Amillat and N’Guessan. Main delegate: Ms. Claudette Agert.
For Saverdun: Khalid Ouandjli (60th).
For Narbonne: Ben Azzouz (38th), Rabhi (80th).
FC SAVERDUN. Meunier ; Fadil Amine, Said, Broussaud, Ouandjli Khalid, Fadil Rachid (cap.), Ouandjli Kamel, Garcia De La Fuente, Ouariba, Sylla, Ouandjli Yassin. Substitutes: Tani, Requena, Niakate, Doucoure. Coach: Romuald Boudeau.
Warnings: Garcia De La Fuente (65th), Khalid Ouandjli (80th), Niakate (90th).
TEN NARBONNE. Giraud ; Oggad, Chalka Adil, Rabhi, Rosa, Ould Kacem, Oymak, Chalka Yacyne (cap.), Niang, Ben Azzouz, Hakkar. Substitutes : Chalabi, Lazari, Ikaabouni, Millan, Larab. Coach: Farid Diaf.
Warnings: Niang (47th), Larab (90th).
Facing an opponent from Regional 1 and after performances at the start of the season, we had the right to fear the worst for President Deleau’s protégés. But a Cup match is never a match like any other. The Saverdunois were not far from creating a nice surprise.
The start of the match saw the visitors trying to set up their game to quickly make the difference. But after a few minutes of Aude domination, the locals showed that they were going to sell themselves dearly. The Narbonnais are struggling to shake up the well-organized Ariège defense, which gives nothing away. Sylla and Ouariba, on well-executed counterattacks, tried their luck, without success. The highlights of the two teams follow one another. It is ultimately the R1 team, at the half-hour mark, which finds the fault. Ben Azzouz takes advantage of a mix-up in front of the goal to beat Meunier from close range (0-1, 32nd). The end of the first act is a little more difficult for Saverdun. Narbonne pushes for shelter. But thanks to a lot of self-sacrifice, the locals returned to the locker room trailing by just one goal.
Khalid Ouandjli opportunists
Returning from the locker room, the Audois press on the local goal but Rachid Fadil’s teammates hold on. They even had a good moment around the hour mark. Three successive corners put Giraud and his defense to work. The reward is coming. Following a poorly returned corner, Khalid Ouandjli was opportunistic and equalized (1-1, 60th). From there, a real Cup match begins with dangerous situations for both sides. The tension rises. It was finally on a corner that the visitors made the difference. Rabhi jumps higher than everyone and beats Meunier with a nice header (1-2, 80th). The last push from the locals won’t change anything. Narbonne wins its qualification but the men of Romuald Boudeau, the new Saverdunois coach, can come out with their heads held high.
DDM. – Sébastien Batteux
In the locker rooms
Romuald Boudeau (FC Saverdun coach) : “Even if we could have gone to penalties, we produced a quality performance against a technically superior opponent. We were able to contain the Narbonnais well, who scored with two somewhat disappointing goals. We will have to perform as well in the championship, the main objective, even if this course in the Cup will be useful for our progress and the confidence of the group.”
Farid Diaf (coach of FU Narbonne): “Faced with a great team that gave us a lot of trouble, my players should still be congratulated because, in the Cup, it’s qualification that counts. We did not expect such opposition which prevented us from putting our usual game in place. We go through the small door but the main thing is to get through. »
