The young ball boys rush to grab a selfie or, for the lucky ones, collect a jersey from a historic round of 16, for the oldest club in Oise, still in activity. Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba falls into the arms of Corentin Michel, his counterpart from Chantilly, who could have been one of the heroes of this Sunday evening. Because, although manhandled by Rennes during almost the entire game, the Cantiliens, who opened the scoring, will have long dreamed of claiming the scalp of the professional team.
Far from their Burgundy stadium, but in an enclosure totally committed to their cause, the match being played to a sold-out crowd. Former players, elected politicians and young people from around sixty clubs… At the end of the weekend, the whole of Oise gathered at the Pierre-Brisson stadium in Beauvais, where there has been no excitement on championship days for too long, but where the department’s clubs like to dream of exploits in the Coupe de France.
This is where in February 2018, Lassana Doucouré’s goal sent Chambly, then a resident of National, to the semi-final of the Coupe de France. There too, that AS Beauvais, at the time of its splendor, had shaken the AJ Auxerre of Guy Roux and Basile Boli in the quarterfinals (in 1989) and broke its attendance record during the reception of OM, for a 32nd not quite like the others. Pierre-Brisson experienced thrills, particularly during this crazy 2000-2001 season which almost led Jacky Bonnevay’s Beauvaisiens to Ligue 1.
So obviously, when shortly before half-time, Evens Joseph sent the ball into the back of the net, 10,000 spectators began to vibrate. Especially since before this flash of genius which warms up the atmosphere, the Cantiliens experienced rather complicated minutes, pounded by Rennes who are laying siege to the surface.
Michel’s exploits were not enough
And the public rises when, in quick succession, Corentin Michel, Marvin Golitin’s back-up goalkeeper in the cages, achieves two feats. By pushing aside, with a determined hand, the ball which, on a strike from Al-Tamari, was flying into the top corner. Then pushing away the following corner.
With a one-goal lead at the break, the Cantiliens, who are playing in an already historic round of 16, will believe in their destiny for a long time. Especially since the Bretons never stop getting tripped up. On the hour mark, on a brushed cross, Jacquet deflects the ball with his head. Corentin Michel is still on the trajectory, but pushes the ball back into the feet of Embolo who scores… Before being flagged offside.
The dream changed in the 68th minute, with a nasty tackle from Yatabaré. Barely entering the game, the Cantilien receives a red card and offers a free kick from 25 m, full axis, transformed into an equalizer by Merlin. In the process, Al-Tamari gives his team the advantage. The match changed. Especially since Legendre adds to the bill. The dream has passed.
