Recap: Brest edge to UCL qualification with win over PSV
Stade Brestois have sealed likely one of the best results in their history, edging Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven by one goal to qualify at least for the play-off rounds of the UEFA Champions League. A goal from Julien Le Cardinal, combined with some heroic goalkeeping from Marco Bizot sealed all three points for Les Pirates. With four wins, one draw, and one loss, they keep intact an impeccable record for a French club in the competition.
Brest were combative from the start, but had to deal with an aggressive Dutch outfit who carved out their first chance of the match as Malik Tillman set off a long range strike from 20 metres out - but Marco Bizot was on hand to parry it away. The Dutchman had to once again be on hand to turn away the ball from a Boscagli volley from a corner, which hit the crossbar on the way out. The game then opened up as Camara pounced on the counter-attack to create Les Pirates' first chance of the game. Yet PSV were lightning quick in the transition and Tillman found Noa Lang, who in turn fed Bakayoko on the edge of the area whose strike just whizzed past the right post.
De Jong then went one-on-one with Bizot, and the goalkeeper managed to time his save to perfection to deflect the Dutch striker's shot. Another strike from De Jong would then get turned onto the crossbar by the Brest goalkeeper.
Le Cardinal breaks the deadlockBut then, against the run of play, Brest's big moment of the game came. Mama Baldé headed across a goal from a freekick, which the PSV defence failed to clear. Both Brendan Chardonnet and Julien Le Cardinal are free at the back post, and the latter manages to poke the ball into the roof of the net and send the Stade Roudourou into raptures (43'). A VAR check would send Brest supporters' nerves into overdrive, but the goal would be approved by the referee.
The mission was clear for Brest in the second half: defend their lead at all costs against the Dutch champions. Noa Lang would get close with a lob, and Bizot had to be a saviour for Les Tizefs. The post came to the aid of the Bretons again, when Ismael Saibari's shot struck the upright. Another scare came for Brest, when PSV thought they earned a penalty for a handball on Ndiaye. Yet, to the relief of the home supporters at Stade Roudourou, VAR would intervene to rule out the spot kick. Les Brestois would hold on, to the delight of a town and a region!
THE STAT: Éric Roy-altyÉric Roy has become the second French coach to win four out their six first games in the UEFA Champions League in the 21st Century, since a certain Zinédine Zidane in 2016.
MATCH REACTIONBrendan Chardonnet: “PSV are a big European club with a great history, bigger than us. But in this match, it's no great feat. Our victory is deserved. There's always something to do. We'll be going to Germany (to face Shakhtar Donetsk) to take the 3 points and if we can qualify directly for the last 16, we won't want to miss out.”
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