Alpha Touré disappears, buried under his teammates while the Messin bench exults. We play the 110th minute of this suffocating return dam and Metz has just taken the advantage on the lawn (1-2) of Reims. Decisive passer on a brilliant heel, Gauthier eh, found in this match, then succeeded in an exceptional lob by deceiving an advanced diouf (1-3, 114th) to close the suspense and definitively send Metz Ligue 1.
A year after their defeat in play-offs against Saint-Etienne, the Messins therefore resume the elevator towards Ligue 1, their specialty. They have 8 climbs for 7 descents since 2002. It is even their 5th consecutive climb after a relegation. After the draw in the go to Saint-Symphorien (1-1), Metz had long been completely harmless.
Until the 78th minute and the equalization of Mathieu Udol, this team, had seemed blurred and without solution, she had offered the same impression as in her last Ligue 2. games. Paris FC Towards the rise in Ligue 1. But this group showed that it had enormous strength of character and large resources.
Reims lost everything in a week
For his part, Reims will not play a 8th consecutive season in Ligue 1. The Auguste-Delaune stadium, already not really spoiled this season (4 wins, 16 points in 17 home games) had a new nightmarish evening. Four days after its lost final of the French Cup against PSG (3-0), Reims lost everything in a week. This relegation to Ligue 2 will not spare a conscience examination to its president Jean-Pierre Caillot, part of the public requested resignation.
After a first ten-time period when they were still shown to be the most dangerous, the Rémois thought they were making the difference a little before the time of play thanks to a beautiful tia angel strike (1-0, 57th). The young 18 -year -old Malian striker arrived this winter in Reims this winter and who had played only 6 Ligue 1 games, has chosen his match well to score his first goal.
The 2-0 ball failed by the Rémois Diakhon
But after the duel missed by Diakhon for a 2-0 ball (75th), Metz equalized on almost his first shot (1-1, 78th). A goal signed by his Captain Courage, defender Mathieu Udol, already a goalscorer.
An equalization that rebalanced the match and added dramaturgy to these dams with two teams who tried everything to tear the decision during the extension. Over the minutes, fatigue and feverishness were felt. But it was therefore Metz who was the most solid mentally and the strongest physically, in the last ten minutes with the magnificent goals of Touré and eh.
The Kop Messin can explode. Benjamin Stambouli, who has nevertheless experienced others in his career, notably with a title of champion of France Ligue 1 with Montpellier, is in tears. The Rémois are growled, like KO boxers. Supporters no longer even have the strength to display their dissatisfaction after this umpteenth disillusionment of a failed season. They will play in Ligue 2 next season. This is the 3rd time in a row that the Ligue 2 club won the dams against that of Ligue 1.
