Strasbourg (AFP)

Strasbourg has offered a dam of the prestigious Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt after defeating (1-0) Bulgarians from Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Thursday.

The Alsatians, who had won (1-0) in the first leg in Bulgaria, relapsed without trembling Thursday with a goal from Kevin Zohi scored early in the game (7th).

The RCSA will have the formidable privilege of challenging its German neighbor, semi-finalist of the competition last season, next week.

Not really favored by this draw, the formation Strasbourg, which hopes to reach the group stage of the Europa League for the first time in 13 years, will also have to move across the Rhine in the return match.

A mission that promises to be very difficult, but not impossible for a club that regained its professionalism just three years ago and has been climbing the ladder very quickly since then.

To continue to dream of a European epic, the players of Thierry Laurey delivered a very solid performance Thursday. Unlike the previous round, where they were heckled in the return match on the lawn Maccabi Haifa, this time they were not afraid.

Driven by its boiling audience, the RCSA starts the match foot to the floor and quickly shows that it does not intend to only manage his advantage of a goal brought back from Bulgaria.

This domination is not slow to materialize on the scoreboard as the Alsatians open the scoring on their first opportunity: Dimitri Liénard recovers the ball 40 meters from the goal, sets a defender before delivering a caviar for Zohi, who concludes dish foot (1-0, 7e).

Although in place, Racing monopolizes the ball but lacks accuracy in the last thirty meters. Zohi, though author of a superb performance, misses the goal of KO by pulling aside (37th).

After the rest, Strasbourg increases its grip on the game but lacks efficiency, like Benjamin Corgnet (50), Nuno Da Costa (60) and Abdallah Ndour (78), who can not find the frame.

Opposite, the Lokomotiv Plovdiv, who has to score twice to stay out of the berth, has trouble worrying Matz Sels. Always vigilant, the goalkeeper from Strasbourg repulsed an attempt by captain Dimitar Iliev at the end of the match (90 ').

Far too little to break the European dream of RCSA and its admirable fans, who are now eagerly awaiting Eintracht Frankfurt!

© 2019 AFP