I was there....
88th minute at the Stade de France, Bordeaux have a corner. Micoud puts the ball into the area and is met by the head of Henrique. The net ripples, and 30,000 Bordeaux fans, and the blue half of the stadium erupts. Bordeaux had done it. Their first shot on target in the whole match and against Lyon, top of the league and full of world-class players, the Bordeaux team had snatched victory, and with it a place in next season's UEFA cup. And I was there.
I’ve had a while to reflect on the whole game, and I still cannot believe what happened! Bordeaux were the underdogs in the match, the whole experience was incredible, and I honestly think it was the best 24 hours of my year abroad to date. 
The coach trip was good fun, we had a really nice picnic just past Futuroscope near Poitiers, we got to Paris in really good time and spent a few hours before the match soaking up the atmosphere, singing and drinking beer together. It was fantastic and it was almost a shame that we had to go into the stadium to watch the match!
The game itself as a spectacle wasn't the greatest, there were very few chances in the match and the first half was all Lyon - I don't even think the Lyon keeper touched the ball at all! Bordeaux barely looked like a team capable of scoring and so I was a bit worried that we had made the long trip north to see Bordeaux get stuffed. 
After enjoying the half time show of the "pom pom girls", the second half was a massive improvement. Despite still not being able to manage a shot on target, Bordeaux were starting to create chances. Faubert went close with a shot and a few minutes later Fernando headed over from a corner. We all had our hearts in our mouths a few moments later when Lyon substitute Milan Baros went clean through 1-on-1 and fired his shot against the inside of the post (wouldn't have counted though as he was ruled offside).
But then it happened; With extra-time looming, Bordeaux won a corner and converted it. We had done it, somehow! By the time the blue half of the stadium had stopped jumping around in delight, the final whistle was blown and we were off bouncing again! Bordeaux had won the cup! Cue mass celebrations, singing and a very quickly consumed bottle of champagne before getting back onto the coach to make the long journey back south.
It was such a fantastic experience, and one I am going to remember for a long time. Allez Bordeaux!
Click here to view a collection of photos from the trip: http://shef.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087885&l=b0bbb&id=61107707
Click here to watch the video of our celebrations at the final whistle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56DkSL503qE
Click here to view a superb news report of the match (+ goal) [in French]: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1lich_lyon-bordeaux-finale-cdl
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