Toulouse puts an end to the great adventure of Annecy and joins Nantes in the final

Toulouse can blush with pleasure. Philippe Montanier’s men qualified for the first Coupe de France final in their history, Thursday April 6, by defeating FC Annecy (2-1), the surprise of this 2022-2023 edition. Executioner of Marseille in the previous round, the residents of Ligue 2 boldly played their luck but were punished for their rare errors by applied Toulouse.

At the Stade de France, on April 29, the Violets will therefore find FC Nantes, winner of Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday in the first semi-final (1-0). A poster that looks like revenge after the dam for Ligue 1 lost to the players of Antoine Kombouaré in 2021.

Toulouse long abused by the little thumb

And yet, Toulouse has moved to Haute-Savoie. Enterprising, the Annecy residents came close to opening the scoring. First, a center from Alexy Bosetti badly negotiated by the Toulouse defense almost benefited Steve Shamal (16th). Then a powerful free kick from Yohan Demoncy, from 35 meters, forced purple goalkeeper Kjetil Haug to shine (18th).

Thomas Callens, hero from Annecy with his seven penalties stopped since the start of the competition, finally gave in first when Branco van den Boomen ideally served Moroccan Zakaria Abouklhal for his 14th assist of the season (36th). A short-lived advantage for Toulouse. While the Haut-Savoyards showed up on set pieces, Alexy Bosetti obtained a penalty which he himself transformed just before the break (45th + 4). Enough to make the Parc des Sports roar and plunge the thirteenth in Ligue 1 into doubt.

Emotional lift benefits Violets

But as we headed for a penalty shootout so dear to Annecy, an error by the unfortunate Arnold Temanfo offered the winning goal to Toulouse Farès Chaïbi (86th). The evening could have fallen into the irrational if the recovery from outside the area sent into the top corner by Sahi Dion had allowed Laurent Guyot’s players to return in additional time (90th + 2). But the Malian was reported in an offside position to the delight of Toulouse.

The enchanted parenthesis therefore ends there for the FCA, engaged in this Coupe de France since the 7th round disputed at the end of October. Fifteenth in Ligue 2 with only two points ahead of the red zone, Annecy will return to the daily bread of the championship with the desire to avoid relegation. Considerations that Toulouse will probably not have by the end of the season. For them, the train is in motion and its destination is Saint-Denis.