when Robert Herbin’s great Saint-Étienne beat RC Lens in the final

It was June 14, 1975, at the Parc des Princes. A final full of colors, emotions and tears, in the end, for Blood and Gold passed so close to achievement. After losing professional status, RC Lens, abandoned by the Houllières in 1969, was rebuilt around Arnold Sowinski, going back to D1 in 1973. Already unhappy semi-finalists of the Coupe de France against Bastia in 1972, after two meetings interspersed with incidents (0-3; 2-0), Artésiens rediscover the taste of Dame Coupe during this 1974-1975 season. After defeating Orléans (2-1), Brest (0-1, 5-1), Toulon (3-1, 3-1) and Metz (3-4, 3-1), the Lensois players snatch their qualification at Reims, against PSG, in a Homeric match (3-2, after extra time).

The Sang et Or open the doors to the Parc des princes. Supporters from both camps travel to the capital by bus or train. Facing RC Lens? An already living legend but which is not yet at the end of its hexagonal domination: AS Saint-Etienne. Already champion in 1957, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1974, the club of Forez also hangs this title of 1975. As for the Coupe de France, the Greens are vying for a fifth trophy after the successes in 1962, 1968, 1970 and 1974. Good news for RC Lens. The presence of Stéphanois players in the final ensures, whatever happens, a place in the Cup Cup in Racing, a first European qualification in the history of the club.

Seventh in D1 at the end of the season, the Lensois are not favorites. But their morale is high. First, because they weren’t ridiculous in Saint-Etienne in the league (beaten 3-2). But mostly because they just brought down the Greens at Bollaert. ” We beat them 3-1 just three weeks ago, we believed “Recalls Alfred Kaiser, one of the three artesian goal scorers with Eugeniusz Faber and Farès Bousdira, rightly.

The incredible miss of Zuraczek, the masterpiece of Larque

The Lensois are also playing equally well in Paris. They even get the best opportunity of the first period. Ryszard Gregorczyk overflows, center back. Daniel Leclercq sees his shot diverted to the bar by Ivan Curkovic. The balloon returns to Casimir Zuraczek three meters from the Stéphane cages. The hero of the semi-final, who had scored the goal of qualifying, completely lost his control, hesitated and saw a green defender clear his camp on the line. We were approaching halftime. This is the turning point of the match.

Always in the know, the Sang et Or will hold the candy for a long time at an uninspired AS Saint-Etienne. But Oswaldo Piazza ends up piercing the Lens defense full axis (0-1, 68th). Before Gérard Janvion deposits a center for Jean-Michel Larqué. The Stéphanois captain takes his time to send a sublime flight under the helm of André Lannoy, one of the most beautiful goals in the history of the competition (0-2, 79th). Lens no longer has the resources to prevent this logical defeat from the standpoint of the forces present, but cruel at the sight of the match. Jacques Marie, the lensois captain, goes up to the presidential gallery with Jean-Michel Larqué. But it is the future sports commentator who receives the trophy from the hands of President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. ” Racing had a great game that day. It’s perhaps the best game of my career
“, Arnold Sowinski often repeated.

The Lensois coach died on April 2. Less than a month later, Robert Herbin, the other coach of this memorable final, is gone too.

AS Saint-Étienne – RC Lens: 2-0 (0-0)

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