After the immense disappointment of elimination in the Champions League and while the league title is in danger of slipping away, Paris Saint-Germain gave meaning to its end of the season by qualifying, Wednesday, May 12, for the final of the Coupe de France thanks to a difficult success on penalties in Montpellier (2-2, 6 tab to 5). This closed-door final on May 19 at the Stade de France can give a different look to his season.
It came close, all the same, and Montpellier did not go far from pushing the Parisians a little more. But the penalty shoot-out did not turn in favor of the Hérault residents, who so hoped for a new Coupe de France, 31 years after that won in 1990 by the team of Laurent Blanc and Eric Cantona.
On the Parisian side, no one trembled, neither Kean, the last hitter, nor Neymar, who succeeded in his attempt despite the whistles of the gang of ball collectors gathered along the sideline.
In Montpellier, it was Junior Sambia who failed and it is cruel for a whole group which had the great merit of resisting the energy and the class of Kylian Mbappé, author of a double and breathtaking from start to finish. end, until it exits at the 82e minute.
Mbappé takes care of everything
In the first period, far from the mollasson collective seen Sunday in Rennes (1-1), Paris did everything, had everything: control of the match and rhythm, the right attitude, speed in the last 30 meters, opportunities by packets, all or almost all born from the speed of Mbappé. Supersonic for his return after having missed so much against Manchester City, the world champion was clearly no longer at all embarrassed by his right calf.
At the 10e minute, the players of Pochettino had already found the loophole in the defense with five built then quickly abandoned by Michel Der Zakarian. After an Icardi stall, it was Gueye who launched the rocket: started a good meter behind Souquet, Mbappé arrived a good meter in front at the entrance to the surface and hit under Bertaud’s bar to put his team on your mind.
Then, two new monstrous acceleration of the French world champion severely rocked the MHSC. And at the 28e minute, the sinking was really close when Icardi pardoned Bertaud by shooting him after yet another overflow from Mbappé.
Montpellier, for its part, had only one chance and it was enough to come back. At the entrance to the area, Laborde indeed sent a magnificent strike from the left into the window opposite Navas, after an action that will do little for the defensive reputation of Florenzi (1-1, 43e).
A penalty shootout victory
But Montpellier had not done enough, and Mbappé too much, for the score to stay at 1-1 for a very long time. Very quickly after rest, the second stage of the Mbappé rocket therefore entered into action, martyring Hilton’s old legs, first in the race and then with an unstoppable sequence of leg-hooking which paved the way for him. goal (2-1, 50e).
But the Parisians did not manage to kill the match, despite a new rain of chances, and Montpellier showed its quality with a very good Mollet-Laborde-Delort action to equalize in the 83e minute (2-2). This was not enough, as there were still shots on goal.
After trapping PSG with the incredible feat of the title snatched in 2012, the Hérault club did not succeed this time in bringing down the giant. For their part, the Parisians now have a final to win, against Monaco or Rumilly-Vallières. Because at this budget level, a simple Champions Trophy would be a bit stingy.
