League

Stade J.SNELLA
Spectators: 9233 (Terracing: 6926, Seating: 2124, VIP seats: 183) R.C. Marseille's Cyrille Melon started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 4th minute, Renan Bouzat hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When R.C. Marseille's Cyrille Melon in the 11th minute got a chance for a shot 11th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U.S.Normande's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, U.S.Normande's Aurélien Mussard got a free kick in the 12th minute. Didier Lafargue showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Youri Borderie, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. The audience was convinced that Cyrille Melon's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Mikael Damm was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. The corner led R.C. Marseille's Ghislain Ménétrier to fire away a dangerous shot which Mikael Damm despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. U.S.Normande were awarded a corner in the 21th minute after R.C. Marseille's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Aymerick Tourrette took the corner. The corner ended in Aymerick Tourrette almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but R.C. Marseille's Didier Lafargue did a great save. After 24 minutes, Mihail Toader mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the R.C. Marseille and the U.S.Normande players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, R.C. Marseille's Mihail Toader got a free kick in the 25th minute. When the match clock showed 28 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Léopold Fraval sped through R.C. Marseille's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Didier Lafargue. U.S.Normande's Mikael Damm proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 33rd minute of the match, managed to save U.S.Normande from getting a goal against them. R.C. Marseille's Didier Lafargue played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Léopold Fraval in the 34th minute of play. Joe Plantin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mathias Mulard kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. Mikael Damm acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 42nd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Renan Bouzat. The supporters of R.C. Marseille booed when U.S.Normande was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 42 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aymerick Tourrette didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 43rd minute, Cyrille Melon managed to get in a good position for a shot. R.C. Marseille's supporters rose to their feet, but Cyrille Melon was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Mikael Damm breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Youri Borderie in the 45th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Didier Lafargue prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After the first half U.S.Normande were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Youri Borderie stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Mihail Toader made a precise shot to the right of Mikael Damm. U.S.Normande's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. Didier Lafargue made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Youri Borderie in the 56th minute of play. Léopold Fraval received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Didier Lafargue tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 60th minute, Renan Bouzat got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Didier Lafargue showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Youri Borderie, who was totally free with the ball in the 62nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Youri Borderie in the 69th minute of play forced R.C. Marseille's goalkeeper Didier Lafargue to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Youri Borderie's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Didier Lafargue was relentless in the 69th minute of the game. 71 minutes into the match, U.S.Normande's goal looked a bit too open when Cyrille Melon came free, but Mikael Damm reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to U.S.Normande getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Rolf Custermans hit a great ball. R.C. Marseille's Djibril Mourot was substituted for Mihail Toader. The supporters of R.C. Marseille booed when U.S.Normande was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 81 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rolf Custermans didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 85th minute Youri Borderie shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Didier Lafargue saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cyrille Melon in the 88th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Mikael Damm prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.