This Friday, Les Titis had the chance to make history by winning the club’s second Coupe Gambardella. At the Stade de France, the young Parisians faced Montpellier to round off their magnificent season in style, whilst they are still competing in the semi-finals of the U19 National Championship play-offs. Montpellier, three-time winners of the competition and the team that knocked out defending champions Rennes in the semi-finals, were determined to play the role of spoilsports. It promised to be a thrilling spectacle!
Both sides were careful to play cautiously at the start of this high-stakes match, with the Rouge et Bleu keeping possession whilst Montpellier looked to hit them on the break. Increasing the pressure, the Parisians finally managed to break through the Hérault defence, with Younes Idder curling his shot perfectly after a fine pass from Mathis Jangeal (1-0, 13').
Having made a strong start to the match, Thomas Leyssales’s players were looking to extend their lead, but following a fine save by their goalkeeper Ewen Basty Morvan, the Hérault side caught their opponents off guard with a lightning-fast counter-attack, with Noah Vidal Cartoux levelling the score with a powerful strike (1-1, 18'). Moments later, the Parisian defence was caught out again when Robin Thiland Herard met a cross to put his side ahead (1-2, 22').
Forced to respond, the Parisians created a huge double chance, but the Hérault defence held firm (28'). Dominating proceedings, the Titis continued to attack and were eventually rewarded for their efforts with a superb strike from Jangeal on the edge of the box (2-2, 38'). Caught off guard by Montpellier’s clinical finishing, the capital club nevertheless went into the break having managed to equalise in a spectacular first half.
The match resumed at a slower pace, despite the southerners looking sharp from the opening minutes, pressing high up the pitch to unsettle the Rouge et Bleu defence. After a difficult start to the second half, David Boly was shown an unbelievable red card, making life even harder for the capital side (63'). Showing real character, they came close to taking the lead, with substitute Pierre Mounguengue seeing his shot cleared off the line (75'). Even with 10 men, the Parisians showed they had no intention of giving up.
The closing stages of the match took on the air of a battle, with both teams trying to avoid a penalty shoot-out. The Titis put up a brave fight, holding firm against Montpellier’s attacks and even breaking into the opposition’s final third on several occasions. In the dying moments of the game, Mounguengue won a penalty after a solo run. A match-winning chance for the history books, coolly converted by Jangeal (3-2, 90’)! After a second half full of self-sacrifice, Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe Gambardella, 35 years after their first triumph in the competition.