Juan try is enough for Racing to dash Sarries cup dream

SARACENS boss Mark Mccall accepted it was the end of an era for the London club as their hopes of a fourth Champions Cup title in five years were dashed in Paris.

Alex Goode kicked five penalties as Sarries overturned a 9-6 interval deficit but the holders were undone by the only try of this semi-final in the 76th minute.

Saracens were leading 15-12 when Virimi Vakatawa charged clear and wing Juan Imhoff accepted Finn Russell’s pass to score.

Maxime Machenaud converted and

TAKE FIVE: Alex Goode Racing, the losing finalists in 2016 and 2018, could savour a famous victory with the 1,000 fans allowed into the Paris La Defense Arena.

Sarries have two Premiership fixtures to fulfil before starting life in the Championship for breaching salary cap regulations and director of rugby Mccall said: “In many ways it is the end of an era but we showed all the qualities and characteristics we need on a new journey.

“This has been an incredible period for us in the last five seasons.

“This was our 23rd knockout game in either Europe or the Premiership and we’ve won 19 of those games, which is an incredible record.

“We put our heart and soul into that game and we can be proud of the players. They are a special group.”

Saracens kept the same side that floored Leinster in the last round, with Goode continuing at fly-half in the place of the suspended Owen Farrell.

Racing lost flanker Fabien Sanconnie to a third-minute head injury and Teddy Iribaren broke the deadlock with an 11th-minute penalty.

Goode levelled the scores as his side began to win the battle for field position and his second penalty gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour, but two more from Iribaren turned the tables by half-time.

Parity was restored at the start of the second half and Sarries turned the screw as Goode kicked them into a sixpoint lead before the decisive try.

Sarries captain Brad Barritt was forced off with a head injury as he and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth prepare to leave the club at the end of the season.

Mccall added: “They are two legends, who have contributed so much on and off the field. We’ll give them the send-off they deserve.” RACING: Try: Imhoff. Pens:

(3), Machenaud. Con:

SARACENS: Pens:

DISMAY: Saracens’ Dom Morris is dejected at the end