Coupe de France: more realistic, Angers did Houilles very badly

It rained heavily, before, during and certainly after the game, but all this water could not dampen the enthusiasm of the Houilles supporters this Saturday. At the Maurice-Baquet stadium, not far from overflowing for the occasion, there were some 2,000 well sheltered in the single stand, along the length of the pitch, plus dozens of kids giving voice and drums to the crowd. tent shelter, in the opposite length.

From the outset, the control was from Angevin, but the intentions were more from Oville. Also, the debates remained balanced for a good while between the 2nd team in Ligue 2 and the non-grade team, currently 9th out of 12 in group B of Regional 1 (6th level).

The chances were not legion during the first period. A strike from Raolisoa on behalf of Angers missed Soumaré’s right post (3rd). The Angevin threat became clear following a strike from Sabanovic, however off target, following good work and a timely pass into the depth from El Melali (12th).

The referee alienated the public – although good-natured – by whistling against Houilles, while the ball had entered Zinga’s cage, but after an Oville foul (6th). The thrill grew, however, when Saïd, served by Sebastiao just over the opposing defense, shook the SCO nets. Unfortunately, the flag was raised, signaling an offside (15th).

Loïs Dioni opens the score in cathedral silence

An oiled tandem that tries to repeat the maneuver, without Saïd being able to control the ball slightly extended (23rd). Time slowly faded away until the break, without much else to sink your teeth into, when, incredulous, Diony was served ideally and opened the scoring from close range in the empty goal, benefiting from a disagreement between Soumaré and his defenders on a harmless Angevin ball, coming from the right (0-1, 38th). All in cathedral silence.

After the break, the Oville intentions were still present, and the Angevin mastery still evident. But due to precipitation, the pitch considerably slowed down the proceedings.

On the Houilles side, an attempt from Smaïl found Zinga’s niche (50th), then that of Spurio, with his left foot, went narrowly over (72nd).

For Angers, in a very tight angle on the right side of the area, Diony failed to give the ball the direction of goal (54th). Then, El Melali was denied the goal of the break, for an offside (75th), then in his duel against Soumaré, hit on the goalkeeper (85th). In added time (90th+2), Abdelli converts a penalty to give the score a magnitude that the locals did not deserve.

“One hundred and ten volunteers were mobilized”

There will therefore be no new 32nd final for the HAC, six years after that against Concarneau in 2018. At the time, the leaders of Houilles had to struggle to play this 32nd in their Maurice-Baquet stadium in thirty-second final against US Concarneau. The FFF had initially asked the Yvelines club to find a fallback ground before authorizing it to play at home. Experience which was very useful logistically for the reception of Angers SCO.

Houilles had not received a professional club since the Second World War. And that would not have happened if the HAC had accepted the Angers invitation to reverse the poster and play this 7th round match in Angers. “We used the organization that had been put in place for the 2017-2018 matches, while making improvements,” explains Xavier Blot, the Oville president. One hundred and ten volunteers were mobilized, as well as 25 security agents and five police officers.

The organizational costs, more in line with a 32nd final than a 7th round, are estimated at 20,000 euros. Although the feat was not complete, such a festive Saturday was certainly worth it. Even so watered.