Les Verts qualify for the play-offs!

In search of one last decisive point, ASSE's U17N side officially booked their place in the play-offs with a 4-1 win over Valencia at the Centre Sportif Robert-Herbin. Despite falling behind early on (ASSE 0-1 Valence, 2nd), David Le Moal's boys showed their seriousness to turn the match around. Rayan Aït Amer quickly equalised (ASSE 1-1 Valencia, 8th) before Daniel Epanya, with a brace, gave Les Vertes some breathing space (ASSE 2-1 Valencia, 18th then ASSE 3-1 Valencia, 36th). In the second half, a Drômois own goal gave ASSE a fourth (ASSE 4-1 Valence, 66th).

Les Verts could have been officially crowned champions thanks to OL's defeat by Nîmes, but Nathan Mouton's team-mates finally booked their place in the play-offs with a fine win. Now twelve points clear of the runners-up, they face the final two rounds of the season with two goals in mind: to finish the regular season on a high and to prepare well for the quarter-final of the U17N championship. The quarter-final, at home on 18 May, will see them take on the winners of Group C, who have also now been announced: Strasbourg.

The coach's reaction

‘We've achieved our objective! It was a first collective objective that wasn't easy and that required consistency. In the long run, I think it's well deserved. Today, despite Valencia's quick opening goal, the players remained serene and calm, because they know that it's all about the game! Now we have to get serious about these last two fixtures. We have to set ourselves challenges, particularly the one of getting as many points as possible. It's all about training, and we need to keep working to progress and prepare well for this quarter-final.

Match report

ASSE 4-1 Olympique Valence
This Sunday 13 April at the Centre Sportif Robert-Herbin (12.30pm)
Half-time score: 3-1
Goals: Aït Amer (8th), Epanya (18th and 36th), CSC (66th) for ASSE; El Hajaoui for Valencia (2nd)
ASSE: Colombet - Teillol, Mnemoi, Kasia (then Charros, 70th), Lengue - Mouton, Ait Amer, Traoré (then Mansouri, 70th) - Aini, Epanya, Moulin (then Vibert, 70th). Coach: David Le Moal.