Excelsior wins the Réunion Cup on penalties against Tamponnaise

The two teams from the South met this Sunday afternoon, from 4:30 p.m., on the lawn of the Michel Volnay stadium. The issue of the day? The Reunion CupLéopold Rambaud“.

Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:

Réunion Cup Football: Excelsior wins the first trophy of the season.

For 93 minutes (90 in added time and 3 in added time), the Tangos, leaders in the championship standings, tried to gain the upper hand over the Tamponnais, 4th in the standings. Without success. It must be said that if we base ourselves on the championship, these two teams, when they met, had neutralized each other in both the first leg and the return leg.

Rewatch the match below:

Football Reunion Cup Final

In the 93rd minute of this very close match, the Tamponnaise even missed a golden opportunity to stop the match now. So it’s time for a first 15-minute overtime, which also achieved nothing, except that it further tired the players of both teams. No more goals in the second overtime.

This Réunion Cup was therefore decided on penalties, after more than 120 minutes of match. Obviously, after these two hours of effort on the pitch, it was about staying focused and not shaking.

Jean-Michel Fontaine, the captain of Tamponnaise, scored a first goal in Théo Robert’s cage. A point to which Angelo responded, facing Excelsior goalkeeper Etienne Lebon.

What followed was a missed opportunity from Sinael Abedo for the Tamponnaise, allowing Excelsior to regain the advantage thanks to Pascal Razak.

Watch Sinael Abedo’s missed shot again:

missed shot

After two new successes for Tangos (Fabrice, then Millan Ajorque), and despite a new goal from Tamponnaise by Brice Herisson, the final point was finally offered by Wendy Gibel. Ending a closed match during which the Tamponnais did not do poorly either.

Watch Wendy Gibel’s winning goal again:

Shoot for the winning goal

Jacques Grondin, captain of the Excelsior, exulted: “we proved it again this evening, even when it’s hard, we don’t give up!“.

Tangos’ reactions to Johnny Lérivain’s microphone:

Live Reunion Cup Johnny Lérivain

“During the match it was very, very hard, but we didn’t give up, we believed in it. It’s a victory that feels good. We went all the way“, commented Ely Issoufy of the Tangos as he left the field.

For his teammate Pascal Razak, victory was not obvious, “knowing the opponent, well united defensively”. “We didn’t give up because it was the work of an entire team, of the entire city of Saint-Joseph, to realize our dream, to win the Réunion Cup.“, he finishes.

Tangos’ reactions to Johnny Lérivain’s microphone:

Excelsior player reaction

Excelsior player reaction

As a reminder, the Saint-Josephois de l’Excelsior had not won this title since 2015. This is the fifth time they have won the title. The Tangos therefore succeed Saint-Pierroise in the winners of this Réunion Cup.

The Excelsior set off confidently. “The victories achieved during the championship give you confidence“, assured their coach Eric Assati before the meeting.