Last-gasp penalty missed as Racing draw with Clermont
TOP 14 RE{ORT: Maxime Machenaud failed with a last-minute penalty goal as Racing 92 drew 31-31 with Clermont in the French Top 14 on Sunday.
In an open affair at Stade Marcel-Michelin the home side led throughout until additional time and even held a 12-point cushion after 35 minutes.
Racing made nine changes from last week’s Champions Cup quarterfinal loss to Toulouse.
The second-placed hosts close the gap to league leaders Toulouse to five points and ambitious Racing move up to fourth as they look to seal an end of season play off spot after their European disappointment.
During a free-flowing opening quarter of an hour centres Wesley Fofana and Apisai Naqalevu scored for Clermont and wing Louis Dupichot dotted down for the visitors to bring the score to 12-10 with a Machenaud penalty goal.
Remy Grosso and John Ulugia added further tries and Camille Lopez slotted a penalty for Clermont for a 12-point advantage with five minutes of the half to go as Machenaud added his second three-pointer of the game.
The visitors were set to cross the 30-point mark with three minutes of the half remaining but Alivereti Raka’s long-distance effort was chalked off by the television match official for a knock-on by fellow winger Grosso.
With the clock red Racing pressed on and closed the gap to a converted score as Olivier Klemenczak dived over in the corner and the Parisians trailed 25-18 at half-time.
French international scrumhalves Parra and Machenaud traded penalty goals in a slow 25 minutes after the break and Clermont led 31-21.
The game sparked back into life with 10 minutes to play as a Racing penalty try brought the teams within three points.
Machenaud guided his side upfield and he squared the scores with a penalty kick.
With the wind in their sails the visitors dominated a scrum in Clermont’s 22 and referee Thomas Charabas pinned the home side’s pack.
Machenaud lined up his effort but it shaded the left-hand post to deny his side the victory and Clermont’s unbeaten home run which stretches back to January 2018 continues.
AFP
