Tragedy? The absurdity of regulations? There are no words for this outcome in France
Georgy Ilyushchenko May 20, 2024, 00:55 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Lorient scored five goals and recovered the lead against Metz, but was still relegated to Ligue 2 due to a scandalous rule.
A phenomenal end to the season at the end of League 1! “Lorient” was supposed to take off directly, but at the last moment it did the impossible and went to the seams. Or not? We record everything every minute.
In France, if there is a tie, the goal difference is counted first. Before the last round, Lorient had only one point in nine games and was three behind Metz. At the same time, with 38 goals scored and 66 lost (-28). The competitor’s indicators were happier: 35 and 56 (-21).
It seemed like seven goals needed to be recovered! Yes, Lorient had to face a desperate outsider (Clermont and Metz) with PSG. But the Parisians secured the title a long time ago, why should they give their best, even away from home? As a result, the drama turned out to be at the level of Hollywood – the games developed in parallel.
Minute 12: Paris quickly scored two goals against Metz. Hmm, has the intrigue been revived? Minute 42: “Lorient” took the lead with a difference of two goals! This is interesting! Minute 63: Lorient scored twice more! The difference was reduced to a minimum! 90+1st minute: Lorient scores the fifth goal! In added time!
“Lorient”
Photo: twitter.com/FCLorient
It seems that the goal difference is now equal between Lorient and Metz! But the first ones have more people stuck! Is all this salvation? As it turned out, no! Many statistical portals have already sent the latter to League 2.
And then it turned out that in Ligue 1 there is an extremely controversial rule: if the goal difference is identical, then they do not look at the number of goals scored, as, for example, in the Bundesliga, but at the head-to-head. matches. There these rivals are also equal: Metz lost at home with 1:2, but before that they were stronger away from home (3:2). Whats Next? Away goals in a head-to-head match! At a time when they are no longer taken into account even in European competitions! And here Metz has the advantage. Fantastically absurd regulations.
Although Lorient achieved a feat, it fell directly from the category. And your opponent will play at the joints. One more goal was missing, ours or PSG’s. A curtain. Now the rules will probably change, but they certainly won’t make things easier for Lorient.
Other interesting things from the day:
The most powerful football day in May! Above all – in the “Championship”
