110th minute: The Reds and Blacks throw their last strengths, tired, exhausted, breathless, but pushed by the stands of the Ray, a center from Sébastien Roudet, the central defense of Bordeaux fumbles, Balmont fires a superb half volley… The stadium erupts! The powerful strike from the midfield of Nice ends up in the nets of Ulrich Ramé. The Gym then leads 2-1 and despite a last-ditch attempt from Bordeaux, the eaglets will hold on and qualify for the semi-finals of the league cup.
This quarter-final against an opponent, currently second to the Lyon giant, was an intense match. Man-to-man duels across the field: Bagayoko against Henrique, the rough Brazilian defender, Traoré facing Laslandes, former teammates, Vahirua finds on his path the international Mavuba… The eaglets managed to excel and overpower a team that had outclassed them 1-0 a few months ago. What’s the difference? Simply the “cup spirit.” The one that thrills the crowds, the one that dreams of all exploits, the one that drove 8,000 spectators to come to the stadium despite the cold, despite the match being televised, the one that enabled a communion between the public and the players, the one that got Frédéric Antonetti off his bench and called for the stadium to go wild at the end of the second half.
This fervor is beautiful. The tenacity of the players matches it. And the union is perfect, so perfect that one would wish it lasts at least until the Stade de France. As the players stepped onto the pitch of the Ray, they saw the shadow of the Stade de France hovering in the azure sky. The veiled moon appeared elliptical to remind them of it. Heading back to buses or cars, the supporters began to dream: “I experienced the Parc des Princes in 1997, it’s a memory I love to narrate to my children. It was fabulous. But now, to think that we are just 90 minutes away from the Stade de France, from coloring it red and black, gives me goosebumps. You mustn’t think about it. I wouldn’t want to jinx it. But tonight, the players have shown us that they are capable. We just have to hope for a good draw,” Patrick recounts as he leaves the stadium.
We are all Patricks! We imagine, we fantasize, and then with a flash of lucidity, we remind ourselves: a semi-final is still to be played and at this level of competition, all teams are equal and deserve the final victory.
The celebration was very beautiful. A match of rare intensity and very high level with a happy outcome for the Gym. But in front of a small audience. It’s a pity for the players and for the club who deserve better support. We must tell those who were absent, who are always wrong, that the 8,000 supporters experienced a true great moment of football, a moment that is only lived in a stadium because there is communion and sharing of emotion. Let’s hope that in the next round the TV viewers will become supporters. Issa Nissa.
