PSG And FC Fleury Qualify To The Coupe De France 2024 Final
PSG are in the final of the French Cup. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe French Cup’s final is set.
Paris Saint Germain will go head-to-head against the semi-final’s underdogs FC Fleury who miraculously knocked Olympique Lyonnais out of the competition.
Two penalty knockout sessions were needed to determine who will head to Montpellier on May 4, 2024.
On Saturday, Fleury shocked the title holders Lyon (0-0, 5-4 on penalties) and booked their place in their first-ever final while PSG struggled to get past Sandrine Soubeyrand’s Paris FC.
Lyon Helpless Against Fleury’s Parked BusFC Fleury qualify to their first ever French Cup final. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by ... [+] FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty ImagesComing into this first confrontation of the French Cup semi-final, only a handful of people believed in FC Fleury’s ability to eliminate the French giants, OL.
The 10-time winners of the “Coupe de France” entered the match determined to qualify and wait for their opponents. With Ada Hegerberg, Kadidiatou Diani, and Eugénie le Sommer up front, Fleury’s chances of keeping a clean sheet were almost inexistent.
However, the Parisians’ head coach Fabrice Abriel’s defensive tactic showed efficiency. With 10 players behind the ball, Lyon’s superstars were left hopeless.
Their chances came from individual efforts by Selma Bacha and Sara Dabritz but they weren’t dangerous enough to defeat Fleury’s Chloé N’Gazi.
More experienced, Sonia Bompastor’s squad failed during the penalty knock-out session as Griedge Mbock, Eugénie le Sommer and Delphine Cascarino missed their penalties.
The title holders OL are therefore eliminated and their Triplé chances are evaporated. They’re currently the D1 Arkéma leaders and are in the quarter-final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League where they face off with Benfica.
Paris FC Tired PSG But Not Enough To Seal A VictoryTabitha Chawinga has been unstoppable with PSG this season. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport ... [+] Images/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesWith difficulty, PSG booked their place in the final against FC Fleury this Sunday following their penalty knockout session triumph against their Parisian rivals, Paris FC (3-3, 4-3 on penalties) in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France.
The club will play its 9th final in the competition against Fleury on May 4.
A Coupe de France final without OL, but with PSG. Not what fans were used to these past few years.
Paris FC did not succeed in bringing down PSG this Sunday. Arranged in 3-5-2, PSG quickly got their foot on the ball and opened the score from the first attempt. Launched deep on the right side, Marie-Antoinette Katoto dribbled past Théa Gréboval then crossed back for Grace Geyoro. The captain pushed the ball deep (1-0, 13th).
Excelling in the counterattacks, Paris FC equalized. Louna Ribadeira, the author of a hat-trick in the D1 Arkéma on Wednesday against Le Havre (3-2), saw her cross deflected by Eva Gaetino with her hand resulting in a penalty. Gaëtane Thiney played it and put her team back in the game (1-1, 28th).
A Stunning Second HalfUpon returning from the locker room, the match was marked by several technical errors and got bogged down in a low rhythm. More serene, PSG took advantage of their experience to go back in front.
Shortly before the hour mark, Tabitha Chawinga benefited from a through ball by Thiniba Samoura at the penalty spot. The best scorer in D1 Arkema (13 goals) dribbled her defender and gave PSG the advantage again (2-1, 56th).
Paris FC equalized yet again following an own goal by Sakina Karchaoui, the French national team star (2-2, 64th).
Grace Geyoro is one of PSG's key players. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesClinically, Paris FC converted their third set piece of the afternoon when Louna Ribadeira rose higher than everyone from a corner and turned the match around (3-2, 71st).
As the match got unbridled, Tabitha Chawinga, untenable with her back to goal, resisted the opposing defense and deceived Marques to score her second of the evening and equalize (3-3, 86th).
On penalties, Katarzyna Kiedrzynek saved Clara Mateo's attempt, while Gaëtane Thiney missed her shot on the bar.
Enough to seal PSG’s qualification.
Key Stats PSG will play the French Cup final for the ninth time in its history. Fleury qualifies for the final for the first time in its history. 4 359 fans attended the PSG vs. PFC match at the Robert Bobin stadium in Paris The last time Lyon finished a match at their home field scoreless against a French team (other than PSG) was against Juvisy on October 5, 2008.
