What does the bottle matter, as long as we are drunk… To make our way to the 32es final of the Coupe de France, Dives Cabourg will not have needed to create the slightest feat. So what? Its presence at this stage of the competition, for only the second time in its history (after 1999), is already one in itself. You only have to take a look in the retro to understand its scope. In the 20thIcentury, the Calvadosian amateur clubs having experienced such an epic can be counted on the fingers of one hand. There was Mondeville in 2000, Bayeux in 2001 and Vire in 2023.
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For Dives Cabourg, the time has come to take advantage of a spotlight that could extend well beyond Normandy. Philippe Clément's club will know the identity of its opponent on Monday evening and after Lille (D2) in 99, it would look very favorably on catching an even bigger fish.
Quickly done, well done
Ce 32e of the final and all that it implies, the SUDC offered it without trembling in the slightest, this Saturday evening. Facing AS Dragon who, in a completely different context, had (surprisingly) surprised US Avranches in the previous round, the Divais made life a lot easier by already leading 2-0 after 11 minutes of play.
El Wakil's cross shot, which ended up hitting the post (2'), served as a warning. Which the Tahitians, authors of repeated gross errors, did not take seriously. A first risky clearance benefited Aurélien Thoris (1-0, 9'), before Tavere, the visiting left-back, stopped his run after losing his shoe. A pass and a handful of seconds later, Alban Bekombo made the break (2-0, 11').
Outclassed in the engagement, unable to get the ball out cleanly, AS Dragon nevertheless continued to discover itself. Bad idea. On yet another tumble, El Wakil caused a penalty which Bekombo converted (3-0, 27'). In the process, Hauariki, the Tahitian goalkeeper, had a hole when he was about to clear, and Fontaine took advantage of the opportunity (4-0, 31').
With an injured goalkeeper and no backup on the bench, the Tahitians gritted their teeth after the break. And only cracked on a curling shot from Mahmoud El Wakil (5-0, 67') and a volley from Mathis Cayssol (6-0, 76'). The Tahitians, who received a sublime welcome from the Divais, saved the honor at the end of the game, with a strike from Hauata, who had just come on (6-1, 84'). For the suspense, we'll come back.
Not the problem of SU Dives Cabourg, already assured of pocketing the tidy sum of €43,000 and, above all, of experiencing intense emotions before Christmas. Appointment is made on December 21. There will definitely be drunkenness. Looking forward to Monday until we know the nature of the bottle.
The technical sheet
DIVES CABOURG – AS DRAGON: 6-1 (4-0).
Referee: Mr. Douart.
1,400 spectators.
BUTS. Dives Cabourg : Thoris (9’), Bekombo (11’, 27’s.p.), Fontaine (31’), El Wakil (67’), Cayssol (76’) ; AS Dragon : M. Hauata (84’).
WARNINGS. Dives Cabourg: Bécherel (70'); Dragon: Tanetoa (18')
DIVES CABOURG : Verrier – Koutele, Suzanne, Bécherel (Kobo, 71'), Gomes Vilela (Suret, 59') – Jeanne, Fontaine (Lefrançois, 71'), Botuly, El Wakil – Bekombo (Cayssol, 41'), Thoris (Tiéhi, 59'). Coach : Philippe Clement.
AS DRAGON : Hauariki (Pito, 62'), Tanetoa, Oue, Poma, Tavere (Broseus, 82') – Gaillot (T. Hauata, 59'), Asen (Tehuritaua, 59'), Xowi (M. Hauata, 82'), Chan-Kat – Tinirauarii, Teatauira (cap.). Coach : Timiona Asen.
