Although nobody, not even owner Adrian Porumboiu, was expecting too much from this match, the players from Vaslui wanted to contradict everybody. The French didn't have an easy match in Vaslui and they can consider lucky for returning home only with 0-0. Caro's players made their best match from this season. That doesn't say too much, because FC Vaslui had a weak start of season, with modest games. However, FC Vaslui managed to dominate the team from France a good part of the match. The first opportunity of the hosts came in 16th minute, but the header of Pouga created only panic in the box, after a corner from Sanmartean. The response of Lille came through a header too, Chedjou missing the target in 34th minute. The game was really hot after the break when the hosts started to press, they having many opportunities. For goalkeeper Landreau, Pouga was number one danger, the player from Cameroon being very good in the air game. On the other side, de Melo had the most important opportunities, but the scoreboard remain unchanged. Eventually the game ended 0-0, and thus FC Vaslui go to France with hope, but also with regret that failed to score at least once, in conditions in which Lille looked like a team which can be defeated.
Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, coach of FC Vaslui: "It was a nice match. There were two completely different halves, in the first they had the initiative and we had to be focused and get out on counter attack. After the break, FC Vaslui were more aggressive. The team fought and gave everything on the field, but at finalization it didn't work as we wanted. It is important that we didn't concede goal at home, but we still are confident that we will qualify in the return match". |