Olympique Rouen continue hot start, now heavy favorites to advance to T11 Cup last 16

Rouen manager David Grizzle made it clear that this season the club expected to advance further in T11 cup than the last 2 seasons. Having fallen in the preliminary round 2 years ago, and the playoff round last season, the last 16 was the minimum that would be excepted. "This club started it's existence with back to back T11 cup victories. It was the first trophy in the clubs history and the most important in club football. Failing to make a real run in the competition is not acceptable."

The club looked it real danger of failing to even return to the playoff round after a disappointing 1-1 home draw in leg 1 of the prelims. The shocking 4-0 road victory that followed has seemed to carry over into all competitions. That draw remains the only time this young season that Rouen failed to win a match in all 3 competitions. Starting off the playoff round on the road against tough opposition didn't seem to phase the young side. This is a group that is used to winning after all, outside of the two cup failures this club hasn't finished worse than 2nd in the other 9 competitions they have entered and have 6 major trophies to their names. There remains 8 players on the club who started that 2nd T11 Cup victory and that was a very young team even compared to now.

The playoff round 1st leg started off very much like their previous cup match. It took less than 11 mins to score the opener in both matches. This time it was a perfectly timed pass from Omar Cardenas that met the in form AM Mauro Ezen for a tap in to give Rouen an all important road goal and the 1-0 lead. There would be no letting off as usual. When this bunch smells blood, be it in the comfy confines of the Stade de Rouen or the hostile German ground they were in on this day. It took all of 6 minutes for Rouen to double their advantage when a corner from Sebastian Rocha met the head of 18 year old LB Arthur Ebeye who had lept over his marker to head the ball inside the far post.

In the 26th minute Les Coqs Gaulois made it 3-0 when Cardenas made a mazy run inside from the right flank and placed a magisterial strike from outside 25 yards into the top corner. While the threats continued for the full 90 mins Rouen's Germany opponents managed to stem the bleeding but failed to produce a goal of their own as the match ended 3-0. Rouen come home tomorrow with a commanding advantage and looking to advance to the last 16 for the 3rd time in club history. While they are certainly taking nothing for granted it would take the worst defeat the club has ever suffered to see them off at this stage. The clubs two previous trips to the final 16 both ended in lifting the famous trophy and while the mountain they need to climb is much steeper than those two the prospect of returning to the biggest stage has supporters excited again.