Attendance 150. Referee : M. Nartz, assistants M. Wernert & M. De Macedo.
Bookings : Tavares (17), Kuster (20), C. Mendy (66), Meunier (76), Lambletin (84) - A. Gomis (31), F. Mary (66).
But : F. Mary (40)
JUVISY : Parmeggiani, Tavares, F. Tarnaud, D. Mendy (Marlin, 73), Lambletin - Raynal, Kuster (Bellony, 60), Devernois, Tamanzay (C. Mendy, 60) - Prique, Meunier. Coach : Prique.
RED STAR 93 : Bruneau, Pendola, Perron, Santos, ,Guidali, F. Mary, Busuttil, Azoulay, A. Gomis, Soumaré (Sylla 77), Gomes-Varela. Coach : Girard.
QUALIFICATION, NO MORE, NO LESS
Twenty francs to get in, and for that the spectators whom showed up got good value for money. Not many goals, but incident aplenty, culminating in a bit of pushing and shoving between the players at the final whistle.
In reality the scoreline flatters Juvisy - if Red Stars' strikers had been a bit more efficient in a spell sandwiched between Fabrice Marys' goal and the half-time whistle, then it could very well have been four or five. having said that, Red Stars' notorious defence, and in particular the inexperienced Franck Guidali almost gifted a couple of goals to the "home" side.
After an initial period of ten minutes when the game was fairly evenly balanced, Red Star took command and took the game to Juvisy. Once again, though, Red Star came up against a goalie playing out of his skin.
The breakthrough came five minutes before the pause. Down the left Soumare turned his marker, before firing a curling long ball towards the center, just behind the line of defenders pushing out for the offside - a tactic that had stood them in good stead up until then - and Fabrice MARY, timing his run to perfection, beat the trap, and cooly slotted the ball past the exposed Parmeggiani.
Heads appeared to go down, and Red Star should have expolited this and extended their lead, but some inept finishing kept the score to one. Gomis, Busuttil and Soumare all found themselvs onside in front of the goal, but Gomis, instead of having a go himself slid the ball across to his captain in an offside position and th goal was ruled out. Soumare should have done better and Azoulay shot tamely into the arms of the goalkeeper.
After the break Juvisy took on a new lease of life, and threatened, but Bruneau was up to the task and thwarted the home side. Red Star appeared to lose concentration, and several players, including the influential Azoulay drifted out of the action. Sylla replaced Soumare but failed to contribute anything new to the performance.
So Red Star go through - at the end of the game several Juvisy players spoilt things a little by having a go at some of the Red Star players, including Mary and Sylla, but nothing serious. As for Red Stars' performance, only the two full backs Pendola and the hard-tackling Santos were outstanding. Attack is seriously blunted without the finishing prowess of Cédric Sabin and Sissoko, Gomis industrious but never dangerous. Soumare showed some great touches, Gomes-Varela was never really in the game. At the back Perron had his work cut out at times in covering for the inexperienced Guidali, and in midfield Azoulay had a good first half but disappeared from view in the second. Enis Saïti and his creativity was missed. (He was in fact sat alongside us in the stand).
A nice little stadium, Viry, with one main stand and a cowshed opposite, a bit blustery as it is situated alongside a lake. Not many Red Star fans there, no Kop Bauer, just the usual faces from the TinCanStand of recent games. Not many club officials either - only JM Roussier on the bench. Funny, it seems that only Bras' "Dead Wood" (ie us, the supporters) seem to be bothered these days...
Left to right : Busuttil, Bruneau, Azoulay, Perron, Soumaré, Pendola, Mary, Guidali, Gomes-Varela, Santos & A. Gomis.