The good side, the one that all of PSG will remember at the end of the season: a title, the third in four years for the women’s section, proof of its consistency at the highest French level. The bad side: this Coupe de France final has long been extremely boring between Parisians physically worn out by a double exhausting opposition against Lyon in the semi-final of the Champions League and a Fleury 91 who mainly thought about defending. Not enough to excite the approximately 8,000 spectators present under the Montpellier sun.
Considering the latest confrontations between the two Ile-de-France representatives, we could have expected better. Fabrice Abriel’s Fleury has never beaten PSG, so the series is in progress. But he had always moved forward with a bit more offensive ambition. This time, the meager counter situations signed by Amenan Kouassi or Batcheba Louis were easily mastered by PSG’s three-way defense, between the speed of Thiniba Samoura or the anticipation of Eva Gaetino and Élisa de Almeida.
Problem: on the PSG side either, the attack did not shine. Without Marie-Antoinette Katoto, absent from the group after a blow suffered on Sunday against OL, Jocelyn Prêcheur’s team lacked its main point of support, essential against a low block. We don’t dare summarize the first period as absolutely nothing happened.
Red for Samoura
The main event of this final finally arrived at the hour mark. Until now very serene, the young Samoura (20 years old) was guilty of two stupid mistakes, far from her goal. Two logical yellows issued (62nd, 66th) by referee Emeline Rochebilière, who did not need to call the VAR, used for the first time in a women’s final. Reduced to ten, the Parisiennes have strangely found a little energy. After the European disappointment, this title was within reach and they did not want to miss it.
And the light came from a cross from the Dutchwoman Lieke Martens, directly into the goal (73rd) from Manon Heil, uninspired on her aerial exit. Captain Grace Geyoro knows she didn’t touch the ball but she explodes with joy and gathers her teammates. Geyoro (80th) and Tabitha Chawinga (81st) could then have increased the score. In her area, goalkeeper Constance Picaud kept the last hot balls. PSG had done the hard part: with four trophies in the competition, it overtook Montpellier in the rankings and got closer (a little) to the ogre Lyon (10).
The Parisian season is already successful in terms of the objectives set (at least one title). The fact remains that it can still be exceptional. The next meeting will be another derby, against Paris FC, at the Parc des Princes, in the semi-finals of D1 Arkema, Saturday May 11.
On the Fleury 91 side, this Wednesday, May 8, it’s time for a real “quarter-final” of D1 against… Montpellier at home. In the event of a victory, Fabrice Abriel’s players would meet OL in the semi-finals of the playoffs. Before, why not, dreaming of a new final against PSG.
