Strasbourg (AFP)

In a phenomenal atmosphere, Strasbourg beat Eintracht Frankfurt (1-0) Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League and is in a favorable run for qualifying.

The Alsatians, who won with a goal from Kevin Zohi (33), will have to preserve this short but valuable advantage in a week across the Rhine to reach the group stage of the competition.

Eight years to the day after being placed in liquidation, synonymous with demotion to the 5th division, the RCSA has continued to rewrite its history in gold letters and is at the doors of a real feat.

Dominators in the first act, the Alsatians suffered a lot after the break but managed to keep their clean sheet and can continue to dream of a European epic, 13 years after their last participation.

In an incandescent Meinau, the Racing, well in place, resisted the German offensives well and was dangerous against. Thus, launched deep in the back of the defense, Dimitri Liénard managed to hit, finding only the netting of Kevin Trapp (13th).

A little earlier, the whole stadium had claimed a penalty after a blatant hand Makoto Hasebe on a shot from Lionel Carole (5th). But Slovak referee Ivan Kruzliak, who did not have the help of the VAR, did not falter.

The Alsatians, admirable envy and determination, are finally rewarded at the half hour of play: on a Liénard corner, the ball falls on the thigh of Danny Da Costa and Zohi pushes him to the bottom of the foot to make capsize the Meinau (1-0).

The Eintracht did not manage to be dangerous except for a free kick by Filip Kostic repulsed by Matz Sels (28th) and the coach Adolf Hütter even made two changes from half-time to wake his team Entrance in the second act, the Germans procure a huge opportunity by Hasebe, whose point-blank range is repulsed magnificently by the Alsatian goalkeeper (46th).

Imposing a laundry that greatly hinders the players of Thierry Laurey, Frankfurt has created a new opportunity, a shot of Hasebe diverted ... hand by Alexander Djiku. Once again, the referee said nothing, provoking the fury of the Francfortois (51st).

In the end, Strasbourg resisted and took the head off the water at the hour of play, before repelling all the German assaults late in the game, to the delight of their supporters, once again remarkable.

It will take the RCSA reissue this kind of performance in a week at the Commerzbank Arena, some 200 kilometers from the Meinau, to afford a gift as beautiful as unexpected, just three years after his return to the professional world.

© 2019 AFP