The opportunity was too good.
With a new-look Coupe de France, Covid obliges, AS Beauvais-Oise, raised in National 2 this season, has not cracked.
This Sunday, on the bumpy ground of Aire-sur-la-Lys, a modest formation of Regional 2, Sébastien Dailly's players did not tremble.
Victorious (1-4) thanks to a hat-trick from Mathieu Duhamel, the former pro in Ligue 1 in Caen and Evian TG, the Picards won their bet.
In less than two weeks, they face Boulogne-sur-Mer (National) for a historic meeting in the round of 16.
It had been eleven years since the Beauvaisiens had regret the intoxication of the Coupe de France.
In 2010, the players of the team coached by Alexandre Clément had even pushed the pleasure until the next round.
After leaving (3-0) Agen (CFA2), the Beauvaisiens saw their adventure end in 8th in front of Sochaux (1-4).
"Yes, it brings back good memories," smiles Guillaume Godin, one of the two presidents with Sylvain Reghem.
It's nice to get the spotlight, via our Cup route.
"
To get there, the Beauvaisiens had a little luck in the draw, but not only.
“We have spent six laps, it's not nothing, analyzes Sébastien Dailly, the ASBO coach.
We also avoided six traps.
“Last example, in Aire-sur-la-Lys, which had just released two N3 teams (Chantilly and Amiens AC) on penalties.
“It was very complicated, says Eduardo Rodrigo, ASBO midfielder.
We had implemented a strategy based on direct play.
The terrain did not allow us to do otherwise.
"
🏆 COUPE DE FRANCE 🏆
Aire-sur-la-Lys (R2) 🆚 @AS_BeauvaisOise (@ N2Championnat): 1-4 (32nd finals)
Summary of the match, Facebook Live replay and technical sheet 👇👇👇https: // t .co / BJJEUqkjap
- AS Beauvais Oise (Off.) (@AS_BeauvaisOise) February 21, 2021
The Beauvaisian epic continues with a certain brio.
She started on the 4th lap with a walk (6-0) on the Bay of Somme side in Saint-Valery (D1) then a solid reception (2-1) from Feignies-Aulnoye (N3).
Like the rest of the amateur world, we had to restart the machine a month ago with a 6th round in Maubeuge (N3) for a penalty shootout (3-2 after a 0-0).
The Beauvaisiens then dismissed Longueau (R1) (3-1) and Steenvoorde (R1) successively (3-1 and 4-2).
Eric Cantona's failed panenka
Arrived in 16th, Beauvais is still far from the quarter-finals, club record in 1989. Before falling against Auxerre of Guy Roux (2-1 and 0-0), the team led by the late Bruno Metsu had released three residents of Ligue 1 (Bordeaux, Caen and Lens).
Eric Cantona's failed panenka at Bordeaux in the 32nd is part of the legend.
“We are not there yet,” assures Guillaume Godin.
There is Boulogne.
A match that enchants us because it will allow us to gauge ourselves against a team that plays in the National.
A division that we would like to find again soon.
"
In the shadow of Chambly (L2) since 2014, the ASBO is in search of its glorious past.
The one where it had almost become the first Picard club to go up to Ligue 1 under the leadership of Jacky Bonnevay in 2001. Leaders 9 days from the end of the championship, while the first 4 were destined to go up, the Beauvaisiens had stumbled until in 7th place.
A trauma that the Picards never digested, to the point of bottoming out until CFA 2 in 2015.
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
Since 2018, ASBO has been trying to rebuild itself.
A first step was taken last season with a rise in N2.
“The Coupe de France has been our priority so far,” explains Sébastien Dailly.
She was guaranteed to have a game the following weekend.
But not anymore, with the resumption of the championship on Saturday in Reims in a late match… ”