2023-10-29 22:20:36
A big atmosphere, an Aulnaysian kop on fire, a match stopped for more than ten minutes, tension… This Sunday at the Rose des Vents stadium, it was a real Cup match, a big 9-3 derby between the modest Espérance Aulnaysienne, 3rd in its R1 group and Red Star, almost invincible leader of National.
If he ended up qualifying (3-1), the Red Star will undoubtedly remember this short trip where he was heckled on the field and often harassed in the stands. His trainer Habib Beye had to endure many jokes. The banners displayed “Welcome to hell”, “Welcome to the quagmire” and “if you win you don’t get out” set the tone. Throughout the match, the Aulnay kop sang, encouraged and therefore also cheered.
During the days preceding the meeting, exchanges were sometimes lively between the two clubs. As for Espérance Aulnaysienne, which in recent years has become the city’s flagship club ahead of CSL Aulnay (R3 now), we have had to comply with Red Star’s numerous security requirements. “We are a small club, we are not used to all that,” told us president Abdelkrim Ounnedi who did a lot of work with his club to be able to organize this match. But the organization was perfect.
The tension was nevertheless palpable between the two teams. After Jovany Ikanga opened the score at the end of the first period (0-1, 42nd), Aulnay managed to equalize just after half-time. Abdoulkhadre Gassama (1-1, 50th) To celebrate the goal, the kop launched numerous fireworks. If this had already been the case during the match, this time, some reached the synthetic field. The referee therefore sent both teams to the locker room.
“I think the cut slowed us down”
In the hallway, tension rose a notch between the players and staff of the two teams. A small scuffle broke out. If he had received the insults during the match with a certain humor, Habib Beye changed his tone. A small altercation took place between him and members of the Aulnay club, words were exchanged. The Red Star coach was then rather upset. Meanwhile, the president of Esperance Aulnaysienne and members of security went to ask the Kop not to throw any more fireworks.
“The match will resume but this is the last time, if there are other fireworks, it will be definitively stopped,” the delegate tells us. After around ten minutes of interruption, the two teams return to the field. Rather tense, Beye asks the delegate to remove certain people from the edge of the field. This is an opportunity for new words exchanged with leaders of Aulnay.
After the stoppage, the match became even more electric on the pitch and clashing. But it was the Red Star who played without Beunardeau, Meyapya, Hachem, Durand, Ifnaoui, Kouagba (rest), Mendy, Eickmayer (injured) and Benali (suspended) who managed the end of the match better. Jovany Ikanga (1-2, 75th) and Achille Anani (1-3, 90 + 2) painfully seal Red Star’s qualification. In the end, everything went well. Everyone shook hands after these two hours of high tension.
Jovany Ikanga scored twice for Red Star. (Photo by Emma da Silva/Icon Sport) 2023 Icon Sport
“I think the cut slowed us down,” regrets coach Mahamadou Sissoko, the coach of Esperance Aulnaysienne. We started very strong and with the momentum of our equalizer, we could have made them doubt even more. But stopping the match stopped our momentum. It’s a shame but we’re still happy with our match. We played the first of National, it was a great party, we managed to bring people, it created publicity for the city and especially the club. For us, it’s a mix of the different districts of Aulnay. We moved up from the 1st district division to R1 and we are working to make the club grow further. We know that here in Aulnay there is a lot of potential. »
THE 6TH ROUND
SATURDAY
Versailles (Nat.) – Fleury (N 2): 4-5 on the tab (1-1)
Le Plessis-Robinson (R 1) – Saint-Brice (R 1): 4-1 at the tabs (3-3)
Entente SSG (N 3) – Aubervilliers (N 2): 3-0 on the tab (0-0).
Sunday
Torcy (R 1) – Chatou (N 3): 2-0.
Saint-Denis (R 1) – Viry (R 1) : 5-2.
Noisy-le-Sec (R 2) – Créteil (N 2): 5-4 in the tabs (1-1).
Saint-Michel (D 1) – Massy (R 3) : 3-0
Le Blanc-Mesnil (R 1) – Racing CFF: (N 2) 0-1
Écouen (D 1) – Houilles AC (R 1): 0-1
Villejuif (R 1) – Morangis-Chilly (R2): 10-9 at the tabs (2-2)
Espérance Aulnaysienne (R 1) – Red Star (Nat.): 1-3.
The draw for the 7th round will take place on Wednesday November 1st in Clairefontaine. It marks the entry into the running of Ligue 2 teams including Paris FC.
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