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Simon Zebo scored two attempts, but the former Munster player was on the losing end in the Heineken Champions Cup final when Exeter Chiefs edged Racing 92 by a score of 31-27 in a thrilling final at Ashton Gate.
The Chiefs conquered Europe in just their 10th season as a top-flight team, ultimately defeating the French heavyweights through a combination of irresistible attacking power and ruthless finish.
But a gripping game saw the teams trade blow after blow, with eight total touchdowns before Exeter prevailed through scores from hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, number eight Sam Simmonds, prop Harry Williams and center Henry Slade. , with Captain Joe Simmonds kicking four conversions and a gasping penalty after prop Tomas Francis had been sent off.
There was even a pause before the final whistle after Simmonds’ penalty as the referees checked to see if there was time to play, but referee Nigel Owens blew and Exeter was able to celebrate.
While Zebo landed twice for Racing, wing Juan Imhoff and hooker Camille Chat also crossed, with Maxime Machenaud adding a penalty and conversion and overhead middle Finn Russell a conversion.
It means Exeter will complete a national and European double, a feat accomplished only by three other English clubs, if they beat the Wasps in next Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership title matchup.
While Racing suffered a third defeat in a European final in five years, Exeter marked their debut appearance by lighting up the great occasion of the tournament.
Full match details
Exeter made one change after their semi-final win over Toulouse, with wing Jacques Vermeulen replacing Sam Skinner, while Racing showed three changes when winger Louis Dupichot, center Henry Chavancy and blocking Bernard Le Roux started.
Donnacha Ryan, a partner of Zebo, a former Munster man, had also been named to the bank.
The final, which would have been in Marseille five months ago had it not been for the pandemic, erupted with an eighth-minute try for Exeter, with characteristic flair, as they pushed the Racing group back from a short-range lineout and El English international Cowan-Dickie landed.
Simmonds kicked the conversion and Exeter was immediately back at Racing 22, only for the French club to enjoy a huge victory.
Fly-half Russell spilled possession behind his own line and threw it forward as he tried to recover the ball, but Chiefs block Jonny Hill was unable to apply downward pressure and Racing escaped after a marginal call from Owens and his television match official was in his favor. .
Exeter, however, added a second down just two minutes later, again after their forwards established dominance, and Sam Simmonds claimed his eighth touchdown in this season’s tournament with his brother Joe converting.
But just when Exeter seemed to be in full control, Racing fought back scoring two attempts in 11 minutes.
Thirty-five caps for Ireland, Zebo claimed first when he received a precise floating pass from Russell, then Imhoff showed his renowned finishing quality to add a second that Russell converted.
Racing was back in competition and Exeter needed to reassert itself. As expected, their forwards were successful again. The French team once again proved powerless to stop drive after drive and this time it was Williams who prospered, with the conversion of Joe Simmonds making it 21-12 at halftime.
But Racing struck first in the second period, taking less than three minutes before Zebo shot for another touchdown and became the fourth player to score two attempts in a Heineken final.
It was a wake-up call for Exeter, but they responded quickly after wing Jack Nowell intercepted Russell’s ambitious pass 20 meters from his own line and found Slade in support, who scored and Joe Simmonds converted.
Racing returned with a short-range score from Chat – Machenaud converted – and the game entered its fourth quarter with 52 points and eight attempts scored.
A Machenaud penalty made it a one-point game with 15 minutes to go, then Francis received a yellow card, Joe Simmonds scored his penalty and Exeter prevailed after an anxious wait before the whistle.
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