Perpignan cooked by Goosen
Treviso caused a major upset on the opening weekend of the new Heineken Cup season with a 9-8 win over Perpignan.
Last Updated: 10/10/09 4:56pm
Treviso produced a stunning upset on the opening weekend of the new Heineken Cup season with a 9-8 win over Perpignan.
The Italian side ended a run of 12 straight home defeats in Europe thanks to a hat-trick of penalties from evergreen fly-half Marius Goosen.
Perpignan threatened to escape with a late try from Jerome Porical after he had earlier slotted over a penalty.
However, Treviso held firm in the closing minutes to record a famous victory - their first over their Top 14 opponents at the seventh time of asking.
Despite a miserable away record in domestic action, Perpignan would have travelled to Stadio Comunale di Monigo looking to pick up a five-point haul after the two teams had been paired together for the third straight year.
Half-time advantage
Instead they failed to even manage an outright victory, Goosen booting the hosts into a 6-0 half-time advantage with a pair of penalties.
The number 10 added three more points to both his and the side's total with another successful shot at the posts shortly after the hour mark.
Perpignan had finally got on the scoreboard shortly before with Porical's penalty on 53 minutes, though it took them until the closing stages to add to their tally.
It was the full-back who touched down to close the gap to a single point but the missed conversion let Treviso off the hook and they defended stoutly until the final whistle to gain revenge for a 48-16 home loss at the hands of the Catalans last season.
The Italian champions' only other success in the competition came against the Dragons back in 2007. They travel to Thomond Park to face Munster next.
