NORMANDY HAD TO BOW TO THE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS
— Albert Baker d'Isy | 16/03/1925 —

The weather favored the Normandy-Uruguay match played today at the Stade des Bruyères. But the price of tickets having been raised very significantly, not all the enclosures were filled despite the interest in the match. Around 8,000 spectators attended the match; the revenue reached 48,000 francs.

The pitch in perfect condition allowed the Uruguayans to fully demonstrate their brilliance; they dominated from start to finish and finally won by 5 goals to 0, after having provided remarkable phases of play and having shown themselves worthy of their reputation.

The Uruguayan team played better than last Sunday; it is true that the Normans, who were less active than the Parisians, gave them more opportunities to develop their attacks. Petrone was the team's scorer, scoring all 5 goals, although he was almost never on target in the last half-hour. His piercing, directional and powerful shots made a strong impression. The other forwards put in some fine combinations. Romano and Castro in particular got on wonderfully, while Barlocco, on the outside right, was continually dangerous, but too personal.

The entire half-back line was dazzling. Andrade was the famous half-back of the Olympic Games; Carreras and Zibechi, both very active, also provided a good game. But the real revelation of this match was the little right-back Fiorentino who, for his debut in Europe, made superb saves and fed his half-backs wonderfully. Arispe, less brilliant, was also impassable. As for Mazali, he did not have the opportunity to demonstrate his qualities.

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It's hard to talk about the Normandy team after praising the Uruguay team. All the players nevertheless played a courageous game, although they were often outplayed. Only the defence rose to the occasion. Barnes made some splendid saves and could do nothing about most of the goals Petrone scored.

Coquin played a remarkably active game and stopped a number of runs down the Uruguayan left wing. Canthelou was less in the limelight but nevertheless provided a very tight defence and, by playing the offside trap to excess, was able to avoid a more severe defeat.

The half-backs were often baffled by the feints and repeated passes of the opposing forwards.

The best was Witty, who repeatedly interfered with Romano and Castro. Cantais overplayed his defensive hand. The forward line had little to do but did not look very bright. The wingers of Orange and Pozzo were the best, along with Corrible. Renier, who was not quick enough, was the only shooter in the line. Boulanger was non-existent.

WHAT THE GAME WAS.

The game was continually to the advantage of the Uruguayans and it would be as tedious to describe it in detail as it was pleasant to contemplate it. We will therefore limit ourselves to highlighting the most critical moments for the Normans and their few descents.

The teams presented themselves as follows:

URUGUAY: Mazali; Fiorentino, Arispe; Carreras, Zibechi, Andrade; Barlocco, Suffiotti, Petrone, Castro, Romano.

NORMANDY: Barnes; Coquin Canthelou; Witty, Morel, Cantais; Orange, Corrubie, Boullenger, Pozzo.

The Uruguayans take off and attack immediately but they fall offside. On several occasions again their descents are unsuccessful for the same reason. From a free-kick, Zibechi and then Andrade just missed the target. Several attempts by Romano, Petrone failed again, then Barnes had to block a French blow given by Petrone. In the fifteenth minute Petrone volleyed a cross from Romano and scored the first goal.

Ten minutes later on a cross from Barlocco, Barnes did not have time to clear; Petrone emerges and easily flies the ball into the empty goal. And two!

A Norman attack then began; Pozzo serves Rénier who shoots with force but Mazali blocks.

Shortly afterwards, Barnes was at work on attempts by Suffiotti and Petrome; he had to concede a corner. Uruguay held on 30 metres from goal and Normandy had to defend.

In the 33rd minute, on a shot from Barlocco, Barnes cleared weakly, Petrone took over and scored for the third time.

A dangerous descent from the Normans resulted in a corner, given without result. A dribble from Castro is audaciously stopped by Barnes and it's time to rest.

From the restart, Petrone, starting from midfield, dribbled around the half-backs and full-backs in remarkable style and scored a fourth goal.

In the ninth minute, Petrone escaped again, this time down the left wing, dribbled past Coquin and found himself in front of Barnes; the latter throws himself in front of the ball which Petrone places with finesse in the net.

Uruguay, certain of winning clearly, then played well and the attacks which, in the first half, all converged towards Petrone took on more scope. It's Barlocco who, on several occasions instead of crossing, falls back and shoots wide; it's Andrade who dribbles around the half-backs and full-backs with his particular skill to place a weak shot in the hands of Barnes; it is Romano, Castro and Zibechi who perform combinations full of finesse. Then the Uruguayan attacks became more vigorous again, and Castro was served several times, but he lacked precision in his shots.

A shock: Carreras and Boullenger are injured, but both immediately return to their places.

Castro goes down alone and shoots; Rascal narrowly deflects for a corner. Shortly after, on a shot from Petrone, Barnes did the same with a superb relaxation. Suffiotti narrowly scores and the end is whistled by Mr. Jones, whose refereeing was impeccable.

Uruguay won clearly, but during the last 35 minutes, considerably hampered by the tactics of the Norman defence which constantly put them offside, they were unable to score.

May the French team, Thursday, in Buffalo do even better!