After eliminating OM in the round of 16, then Boulogne-sur-Mer, Canet’s players said goodbye to the Coupe de France in the quarter-finals against Andy Delort’s MHSC. – Alain Robert / SIPA
- Fans of Canet-en-Roussillon (4th division) led for a long time against Montpellier before losing (2-1) on a double from Andy Delort.
- The Algerian international paid tribute to them after the match.
- Reduced to ten for an hour after the expulsion of Vitorino Hilton, the MHSC will play its first semi-final of the Coupe de France in 24 years.
“Well done guys, it’s beautiful what you did”. The words of Andy Delort for the players of Canet-en-Roussillon will probably not take away the feeling of having missed out on a new feat. But they ring true for these amateurs of Nationale 2 (the fourth division of French football), very close to reaching the semi-final of the Coupe de France. Before losing 2-1, the Catalans led for a long time against the professionals of Hérault in this quarter-final, after an action which resulted in a double penalty for Vitorino Hilton. Penalty and expulsion of the Brazilian captain who had just lost the ball on a bad restart and left his partners at ten after 25 minutes of play.
“We had the game in hand. Unfortunately, against teams of this level, we pay cash for the slightest error, believes Jérémy Posteraro, the former Nîmes author in the round of 16 of a sumptuous goal against OM (2-1). The logic is respected, but we have achieved a good journey “
A guard of honor for residents of Nationale 2
But the Algerian international from Montpellier appeared twice in the second half, on two set pieces. First by taking advantage of a defensive error to emerge upon receipt of a free kick from Téji Savanier and equalize. Before transforming at the end of the match a penalty for a foul on Wahi. “Even if the opponent did what it took to annoy us, we slept in the first half, said Michel Der Zakarian, the MHSC coach. And we got a big tile with a penalty and a red card. In the second half, the players put together the ingredients to turn things around, thanks to players with character. “
A superb defensive gesture from Nicolas Cozza at the end of the match and a break point wasted by Andy Delort did not change anything in the end. The magnificent course of Canet-en-Roussillon was accompanied by a guard of honor from Montpellier, but ends at the gates of the last square. Canet-en-Roussillon will not accompany Rumilly – Toulouse loser – at the gates of the final. “I have no regrets about what we produced. We annoyed them at times. We knew they were going to grow after the eviction. There is quality opposite, says Catalan coach Farid Fouzari. They amply deserve this victory and this qualification. We must be proud of our career, of what we proposed in those matches, against OM, Boulogne-sur-Mer and today, the televised matches ”.
The MHSC will play its first semi-final in 24 years. The last dates back to April 19, 1997. He then lost at this stage of the event in Guingamp (2-0, after extra time). The final word returned to Andy Delort on social media. “Well done to Canet RFC, you have a great coach, a great group. Long live football and long live the Super League Out ”.