Misson Somewhat Accomplished for UEFA Cupsters

By: Sam | October 5th, 2007

With one quarter of the Ligue 1 clubs competing in the first round of the UEFA Cup, whose second leg was disputed this week, you knew not all of them would go through, especially since it wasn’t by any means the top of the crop repping the ligue. Well, out of the five, three went through. Bordeaux, Rennes, and Toulouse have earned the right to a group-stage spot, while Lens and Sochaux “go home” in cruel fashion.

Toulouse, who ended up in this spot by being spanked by Liverpool in the Champions League qualifying stage, travelled to Sofia to keep their dream alive, after drawing nil-nil at home two weeks prior. And boy did they get a break. After having gone behind midway through the second half, it looked all but over for the boys in light purple, but in the sixth minute of added time (merci l’arbitre!) , Pierre-André Gignac levelled, putting them through on away goals.

Bordeaux also drew by a goal apiece at home, but after having beat Tampere United in dramatic fashion in the away leg. Marouane Chamakh for the hosts and Savolainen for the Finns in quick succession were the only notable moments in the match that was thoroughly dominated by the French.

The final goer-through from France is none other than the black and red of Brittany, Stade Rennais, who despite their loss to Lokomotiv Sofia, went through 4-3 on aggregate, albeit with a bit of a scare. Sylvain Marveaux scored first for Rennes, but two goals later they really had to work for it. Shazback at the Rennes Offside has it in detail here.

Now for the sadder news. Sochaux. Sucks. It’s a shame we had to waste a chance on them, as harsh as that sounds. Even though they did beat the modest Greek side of Panonios over in Zeus’ native land, it was not enough to level the aggregate score, which had taken a slant to the Greeks after a 2-0 humiliation at Auguste Bonal. The only goal in the second leg came from a Panonios defender who deflected a shot past his own keeper.

Now for the sadder, sadder news. Lens, who drew 1-1 in Copenhagen and were always capable of breaking through, ended up getting attacked by surprise and lost out. Having gone in front early through Éric Carrière, they suffered an equalizer from none other than Marcus Allback, and in extra-time, with a man more than their opponents, were cursed with a very questionable penalty that Gronkjaer converted to drown their misery even further.

The draw for the Group Stage is to be held on the ninth in the cozy nestlement of Nyon in Switzerland, also known as “The Place Where All The UEFA Draws Are Made, Except Sometimes Monaco”. Follow the news and stuff with Ian at the UEFA Cup Offside.