I do appreciate all
this rather pales into insignificance in the context of tomorrow’s game and
what looks like the impending confirmation of the takeover. But perhaps it will
provide a diversion as we wait for the main events, especially as the outcome
of the final round of games in National, France’s third division, attracted
some attention given the end-result.
To recap, in this
ridiculously tight division of 17 teams (usually 18 but with one, Bastia,
missing this season) with one game left Red Star were confirmed as champions
with one of Grenoble or Beziers taking the second promotion spot, the other
going into a play-off against the team finishing third-bottom of the second
division. At the other end Creteil had been relegated some time ago, they’d
just been joined by Marseilles Consolat, but then any one of eight teams –
including Lyon Duchere, my adopted French team - could have taken the final
relegation place. No need for nail-biting if the team going into the final game
in that last relegation place, Entente SSG (otherwise called Sannois
Saint-Gratien), lost their game, away at Grenoble, who still needed a result if
they were to hold onto second place and automatic promotion.
Duchere, who sat in
12th place on 39 points, went into the last game knowing that a win at home to
Chambly and they were safe for sure. A draw would probably be enough, given all
the other teams involved, but a defeat and they’d be relying on at least one of
the three teams below them to lose to stay up. Chambly themselves, on 40
points, were not guaranteed safety.
So nobody was
especially surprised by the cagey start to the game, with a bumper crowd of 572
(just over double this season’s average attendance, the lowest of the league)
having taken advantage of free admission for the game. But Duchere were looking
more threatening going forward and nerves were eased after 12 mins as they took
the lead. A cross from the right to the far post was headed back into the
middle. There didn’t seem to be a real threat, but the appropriately named
Jackson Mendes – who had indeed been running down the wing for us – managed to
get enough on his header and to divert the ball into exactly the right spot,
into the corner of the net just under the bar.
After that Duchere
had a purple patch and four or five good opportunities to add to the lead and
ensure a reasonable cushion. They didn’t take any of them, and did have a
reminder of the danger they were still in as just before the break Chambly hit
the post with a header from a cross of their own. No matter, La Duch were still
winning and with half-time came the opportunity to see how the other results
were shaping up.
Staring out from the
mobile screen was Grenoble 1 Entente 2. Wow. Surely it wouldn’t end like that,
but what did it mean for the placings? Grenoble’s rivals for the second
promotion spot, Beziers, were at home to Les Herbiers. Remember them? The team
that had won the previous week, to allow them we all thought to enjoy the
French Cup Final on Tuesday evening against PSG without fear for their place in
the third division. Plenty of deserved attention as a village of 15,000 took
15,700 to the game. There was no miracle, PSG winning 2-0, but plenty of
plaudits for Les Herbiers’ plucky performance and wonderful cup run. But it
wasn’t exactly ideal preparation for another game on Friday evening, especially
given the opposition. So no surprise that Beziers were 1-0 to the good. Although
Pau were also losing (at home to champions Red Star), with Cholet a goal to the
good at home to Creteil and Concarneau winning away at Laval, remarkably Les
Herbiers had dropped into the final relegation place.
Tough on them for
sure but by no means done and dusted. Surely Grenoble – who had actually scored
first in their game - wouldn’t actually lose at home to Entente. Still 45
minutes to go.
For Duchere, and
Chambly, this meant that their game took on a rather different complexion. For
Chambly, as long as Les Herbiers lost they were safe. For Duchere, as long as
Les Herbiers lost a draw was good enough to survive, but a defeat and I really
don’t know; they would end up on the same number of points as Les Herbiers –
and simple goal difference doesn’t seem to cover placings in this division. So
although they game didn’t descend into a players’ deal not to try to score,
both teams were content to keep things as they were – as long as the picture
elsewhere didn’t change.
There were more
goals. Early in the second half Les Herbiers conceded another at Beziers,
making them increasingly dependent on Grenoble turning it around. But
incredibly it was Entente who scored again, to go 1-3 up at Grenoble. Then Les
Herbiers’ chances of anything from their game all but disappeared as they went
3-0 down. With around 20 minutes left Les Herbiers did actually get one back
but there was to be no comeback. Nevertheless, their hopes of survival were
boosted as Grenoble scored a second with a little less than 10 minutes of
normal time to go. At the time it looked as though one more goal for Grenoble
and they would get automatic promotion and Entente would drop back into the
bottom three/four, Les Herbiers surviving. To add to the drama, Creteil had
equalised at Cholet and if they scored a winner it would be Cholet who went
down; Pau had managed an equaliser at home to Red Star, taking them a point
above the bottom teams; and Concarneau had been pegged back to 1-1 at Laval,
leaving them on the same points as Pau.
Heaven only knows
what the atmosphere was like at Grenoble for those final 10 minutes. We at
Duchere were enjoying following the scores – but not with indifference. If
Chambly had equalised – and they did have one or two chances, as did Duchere –
it would only require one more for them and it could after all be La Duch
facing the drop. But that was not to happen. Both teams settled for what they
had and were able to celebrate survival when the final whistle blew.
As it happened there
were no more important goals – although Beziers added a fourth to add to Les
Herbiers’ misery. Entente somehow held on to their 2-3 lead and took the three
points, lifting themselves to 11th place on 40 points, the same as Pau (10th),
Chambly (12th) and Concarneau (13th). Cholet held on to their home point to
finish on the same number of points (39) as Les Herbiers but placed above them
in 14th. And Les Herbiers, having enjoyed the attention and glory of a cup
final and with a celebration at their ground planned for Saturday, found
themselves relegated.
Duchere? Would you
believe that the win lifted them to sixth place in the league. Anyone in the
future looking at the final league placings would have no idea that going into
the final stages of the last game they could still have been relegated. The
celebrations at the end in front of the home fans were genuine and
well-deserved. Last season had been Duchere’s first in this league and they
enjoyed it, coming close to securing promotion at the first time of asking.
This time around it had been tough, very tough. It would have been easy to have
fallen away and gone back down; instead in recent weeks they pulled out wins
away at Grenoble and Laval and a draw at Red Star, plus that vital home victory
over Boulogne. They displayed character and resolve and can look back on the
campaign with pride as they plan for next season.
Les Herbiers? No
doubt it hurt last night and today. But I suspect that when they’ve had the
chance to reflect if they’d had a choice between a cup final and relegation
versus staying up they may well have gone for the former. They can tell their
grandchildren about the day they took on the mighty PSG long after a relegation
has been forgotten.
Us? Needless to say
another Jackson goal (or three) tomorrow would be very welcome.
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