Cluj-Napoca (Romania) (AFP)
Rennes was eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday night by the Romanians of Cluj, victorious 1-0 thanks to an excellent goalkeeper and a lot of success, on the same score as the first leg in Brittany.
With a small point in four games, gleaned against Celtic Glasgow at Roazhon Park (1-1), the men of Julien Stephan are definitely behind in the Group E of the Europa League eagerly awaited but ultimately missed from start to finish.
In front of 10.000 spectators, including 500 Rennes fans, Cluj's best asset was his goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis, the author of several decisive parries that kept his team in the match, against Rennes well in place and often dangerous.
The Lithuanian started off a pivotal shot by Adrien Hunou (5th) after a Raphinha raid on the right and an instant rebuff by Romain Del Castillo. Then he went to look for a superb wound wound Mbaye Niang who was obviously taking the path to his skylight (13th).
The third significant opportunity from Rennes came from the same Niang (35), from the lead, on a perfect center of Raphinha, but again Arlauskis was vigilant. On the other side of the field, Cluj was sometimes dangerous against, by Omrani or Traore, but the number 2 goalkeeper of Rennes, Romain Salin, was vigilant.
On the restart, Cluj began to play higher, but not long, and Rennes has resumed his pressing, causing yet another unexpected rescue for the Romanians, the indispensable Arlauskis, the foot, on a tense shot by Del Castillo (53e). Just after the best Romanian opportunity, a tight shot by Emmanuel Culio (51st).
The Arlauskis festival continued after the entrance of several substitutes, when he flew to divert acrobatically a shot shot from Benjamin Bourigeaud (78th), and hurt his right shoulder while falling. But not enough to leave his teammates in the French team's lowest ranked, in September, this Europa League.
As often in this type of match, the case ended with a hold-up, a goal against the course of play of substitute Mario Rondon (87th), author of a header on a corner shot by Deac, the Romanian playmaker: 1-0 and end of the Rennes hopes in this Europa League.
The scorer was then sent off for a useless outsole on Gnagnon (90 '). The expulsion could have helped, with six minutes of playtime, but it was written that the Rennais would drink the chalice to the dregs.
Their long nightmare in this Europa League ended with a scramble in the Romanian surface and even a tying goal of Jordan Siebatcheu ... canceled by the referee, for a hand foul not obvious of the striker Rennes (90th + 4).
A final parade of Arlauskis (90 + 5) closed the debate, as a last symbol. Goodbye Europe.
© 2019 AFP