MATCH REPORTS 2003-2004  RED STAR FC 93

PARIS FC 1 RED STAR 2 (aet, 0-0 90 mins)
Coupe de Paris
Stade Dejerine, 18/02/2004

Goals : Marques, Guei - ???
RED STAR : Germain, Hammami, Dao, Yessad, Fourneuf, Budoc, Delaneuville, Fellahi, Guei, Desmarets, Baldé (Marques 64). Subs: Béhiche & Debbah. Coach: J.L. Girard

CUP SUCCESS

Red Star progress through to the last sixteen of the Coupe de Paris following an extra-time success over a team from two divisions above. But on the balance of play at times it was hard to see which was the CFA outfit and which was the DH.
Against teams which try to play football (PSG, PFC...) Red Stars' youngsters generally fare better than when up against a team which defends and hits on the counter (Villemomble, Versailles, Cosmo...). Last night, the seventy or so hardy souls whom braved a freezing Parisian evening, ignoring the televised friendly between Belgium and France saw a very impressive performance by Jean-Luc Girards' charges. Led by their exemplerary captain Yoann Delaneuville, goals from Pipo Marques and big Franck Guei ensured that the name of Red Star would be in the hat for the next round draw.
An icy wind swept across the east of Paris and with it in their backs Red Star lay siege to the Parisian goal straight from the kick-off. Despite the pressure the score stayed at nil-nil until the break. No half-time cuppa; obviously the locals had decided that no-one would be interested in the Coupe de Paris on a freezing February evening. Free to get in, though. Paris FC had decided that they wanted to get the game over and done with as quickly as possible, emerging from the cosy warmth of the dressing room some five minutes before their visitors. The second half provided much honest endeavour by both sides, but the goals remained untroubled. Red Star almost lost the game deep into injury time when after a goalmouth scramble, Youssef Dao was forced to hoof the ball to safety from his own line.
Those freezing supporters wanting to gome home were subjected thus to an extra thirty minutes of football. Before the kick-off, hopes were raised of there being a golden goal rather than the full half an hour. If that had been the case then Red Star could have left twenty minutes before they actually did. Substitute Pipo MARQUES, on for Balde, was on hand to plant a firm header into the empty net as PFCs' goalie saved from a good Desmarets attempt. (1-0). No golden goal however, and Red Star were left to rue the decision shortly after the turn-around. Paris drew level with perhaps the best move and certainly the best goal of the game. Dao, pushing forwards lost the ball on the halfway line. Two passes later and a long cross field pass from the right was volleyed into the net from the left-hand side of the Red Star penalty area (1-1). It could all have been different however if Pipo Marques hadn't missed the unmissable minutes after openeing the score. With the goalkeeper beaten, Pipo failed to master a bobbling ball and fired his shot just wide of the open goal.
Finally it was burly defender-turned-striker Frank GUEI who sent Red Star into the next round with a goal which was the product of a split-second hesitation by the PFC goalie. Franck reacted faster than the local custodian to nip in and put the ball into the net (2-1). Joy for the frozen fans on the touchline at last.
PFC pressed on the last few minutes, but Red Star held out for a memorable win.
Some comments on the evening - firstly how much the appearance of the stadium has been improved with the dismantling of the horrible seven foot high fences that used to surround the pitch. From the sides one has a perfect view of procedings, especially with their being no running track the players are near - almost a typical English non-league ground.
For those whom remember the fiascos of last season when even for the important games there was no representation of hte club officials at away games (see Ivry...) this evening no less than three senior members of Red Stars' directors were present, including President Eric Charrier who had a chat with the fans. A gesture much appreciated by the supporters... considering the freezing temperatures, the relative unimportance of the game and the fact that Zidane & Co were on the telly. Full marks to them !

PFC - Red Star  PFC - Red Star
Players prepare to enter the fray led by captains Delaneuville (Red Star) & Amzal (PFC). Right, the PFC stadium

© AllezRedStar.com 2004

MATCH REPORTS 2003-2004

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