The duel of National 2 fans was synonymous with suspense until the end, Wednesday evening in Périgueux. Versailles, which led for a long time before being joined at the last minute by Bergerac (1-1), still managed to win on penalties (5-4) and thus reach the last four of the French Cup.
On a hostile, bumpy ground, which especially handicapped the Périgourdins, more players, the team of Youssef Chibhi led its boat perfectly to imitate Calais (finalist in 2000), Montceau-les-Mines (2007), Quevilly (2010) and Rumilly (2021), the only 4th level teams to have reached this stage of the competition before them. “It remains exceptional for a club like Versailles, a city like Versailles, recognized Chibhi. We represent the Paris region, it’s something huge. At this stage of the competition, for our recent history, it is a real step and an important turn that we are taking today”.
An eviction that changes everything
A smooth roll from Inza Diarrassouba (14), the first goal conceded by Bergerac in the competition, had allowed his players to dream of an easy qualification in this clash of ambitious amateurs, leaders of their respective groups in N2, and who dream of the professional world in the medium term. More solid and willingly accepting to be dominated, the Yvelinois delivered an almost perfect match away from home, without panicking and repelling all the often disorderly attacks from Erwan Lannuzel’s men, for whom “he lacked the strength and speed in content in transmissions to put Versailles in difficulty”.
The last ten minutes, reduced to ten after the expulsion of Christopher Ibayi, further increased the local pressure, rewarded at the last minute by Axel Tressens, shifted to the left, who crossed a shot on the inbound post from Dan Delaunay , not worried so far. On the euphoria, and with the experience of winning penalty shootouts in the 32nd final against Metz and in the 16th against Créteil, another Ile-de-France team, the Dordognais advanced with confidence.
Beat Nice to see Saint-Denis
“Penalties are unpredictable, it’s fate, I don’t budge,” recalled Lannuzel. There are teams that work them and win, some don’t work them and also win. Kevin Mingoua, his stopper had succeeded in his attempts against Messins and Cristoliens. This time, he hit the post, leaving, and letting Versailles slip away, supported by around sixty supporters who came by bus, towards the semi-finals, 90 minutes from the Stade de France. To get there, however, you will have to climb a mountain on March 2: beat Nice, wide winner of Marseille (4-1).