Eliminated by Atlas Paillade, Etoile Sportive Paulhanaise leaves the cup disappointed

Les Rouge et Noir sortent de la coupe de l'Hérault en 8e, chez une équipe de Régionale 1 Midi Libre – J.J.

Hérault Cup/8th final/Beaten 3-2, the club was not far from the feat this Sunday at La Mosson at a Regional 1 resident. ;  

That was clearly a goal! The draw and a great team from Atlas Paillade (Regional 1) decided otherwise. Undefeated leader of its R3 group, Etoile Sportive Paulhanaise narrowly lost, 3-2, and has nothing to be ashamed of for its performance this Sunday, February 11 in Montpellier. After taking out Agde (R2) in the previous round, she left the Hérault Cup with great disappointment.

Absences that are expensive

"We quickly opened the score but then we had absences which cost us dearly in this type of match where we should have been on top for 95 minutes" explains president Thierry Perez whose team was without its center forward Tanfin injured in his adductor muscles and its central defender Jérémy Clément suspended.    

If Jérémie Garcia found the opening, the residents of R1 scored two goals in quick succession (18th and 20th) before making the break before half-time (35th). Théo Petit Jean gave hope to the Rouge et Noir who were pushing to try to equalize and snatch a penalty shootout. Which they had to do at the very end of the game on a ball saved on their line, with their hand or not, by a defender without anything being whistled.

"An equalizer would not have been illogical given the match. It's a shame because there was room to do better" adds President Pérez. "We see what we are missing against a great Regional 1 team. We are really disappointed because there is a lot to be done in this cup this year. But there is a championship to finish and we will bounce back."

In Regional 2 surely next season towards which the Etoile is heading fast with 14 victories in 14 days.