This is the principle of the dream. It is soft, soothing and gives the illusion that everything is endlessly beautiful. But his fate is to faint in the morning. For Versailles, it was in the Riviera night that everything stopped. We must not blame the Nice alarm clock, triggered by the amazing Amine Gouiri. She was just there to put the Versailles crampons back on earth but will not erase the beautiful things of the Coupe de France adventure.
The Yvelinois will not join Calais, the only fourth division team to have played in a cup final in 2000 before filing for bankruptcy a few years later. Versailles has other ambitions than being a simple fireworks display, even fired above the beautiful gardens designed by Le Nôtre four centuries ago. The cup adventure is supposed to be a boost for Ligue 2. Not just a story to lull young Versaillesers to sleep by the fireside in winter.
In Nice, on the other hand, there are fewer opportunities to light fireplaces, but the story is also beautiful. The Riviera club had never played in a Coupe de France final at the Stade de France. The last time he had played, and won one, was in 1997 on the lawn of the Parc des Princes.
Two jewels to make Versailles flinch
Just before kick-off, a message “No to war” broadcast on the giant screens of the Allianz Riviera reminded everyone of the fragility and luck of being able to get carried away, three hours by plane from Kiev, to just a football match. But since we can stick to the haphazard way of talking about sport, let’s admit a disappearance: where had the four divisions gone in Nice and Versailles? We looked for him for half time.
Because the Azureans, contenders for a place in the Champions League next season, have long been bogged down in sterile and somewhat annoying ball possession. With a team that had in turn come out of the cup, PSG then OM, we foolishly imagined that a National 2 formation would be quickly swallowed up. With a scenario written in advance: a classic attack-defense with Versailles cornered on their goal. All false. On the contrary, National 2 fans were playing high, not returning the ball too quickly.
Apart from two headers from Kephren Thuram (12th and 43rd), the Aiglons had their claws smoothed. As if the ultra-favorite status inhibited them. It is true that the history of France recalls that at Versailles, the kings had their favorites but that they sometimes changed quickly according to their mood. The people of Nice understand that the devil should not be tempted too much. Inevitably shaken at the break by Christophe Galtier, they finally play with ease.
On a cross from the right side of Lotomba, Amine Gouiri, the finest player on the lawn, controls the chest and sends the ball from the right into the right corner of Versailles (1-0, 48th). And that’s nothing compared to the second goal: a raid from the central circle, three Versaillesers in the wind with a simple control and a caviar for Dolberg which seals the match (2-0, 73rd). It took two jewels to shake the team symbolizing the royal crown.
