Convincing in the first period before diving, the VAFC won its qualification on penalties in Thionville for the first of Vincent Hognon (2-2, 4-5 tab) at the Guentrange stadium, this Sunday, as part of the 32nd final of the Coupe de France.
A promising VAFC for 45 minutes
It was an expected meeting which would set the tone for this new era, but Vincent Hognon and his men negotiated this baptism of fire rather well and above all ensured the essentials for Thionville, resident of National 2. At the end of a first quarter of an hour generally controlled, the VAFC found the fault on its first opportunity. Served magnificently by Aymen Boutoutaou, Mathias Oyewusi was stopped by Alexis Zimmermann. But Makabi Lilepo followed well to open the scoring (0-1, 14′).
Although it suffered a few situations (23′, 32′), the Hainaut club displayed its superiority with a regained balance and a fairly interesting proposition with the ball. Rémy Boissier posed a great danger from a free kick (23′), notably on the crossbar found by Jordan Poha (37′). Oyewusi also tried but came up against Zimmermann again (33′), very close to being surprised on his restart (41′).
A hell of a scare but a qualification
Not yet completely back on his feet, VA fell back into his ways as soon as he returned from the locker room. The left paw of Amine Groune, already dangerous when striking (47′), deposited a perfect ball on the head of the incoming Michael Omosanya, who took advantage of Mathieu Michel's error of judgment to equalize (1-1, 48′). The Valenciennes goalkeeper was once again put in difficulty on the following corners (61′) and was very happy to see David Luvalu's very dangerous shot diverted for a corner (70′).
Much more disrupted in the second half, Vincent Hognon's men struggled to display the same superiority as in the first half. Daouda Traoré thought he would give his team the advantage with a splendid curling shot, but the Valenciennois was offside (63'). We had to wait a few minutes and a perfect free kick from Boissier towards Lucas Woudenberg to see the Dutch defender restore the advantage to his team with a powerful volley (1-2, 73').
At the end of the match marked by Valenciennes' repeated time-saving, VA, struggling in defensive set-pieces, was finally punished at the end of added time. After the improbable miss from Carnejy Antoine (90+7′), Thionville equalized on the last action with the header of Jules Vitoux (2-2, 90+7′). Finally, with good memories of Mulhouse and Rouen last season, a two-faced VAFC won the penalty shootout with Boissier's last victorious shot (4-5 tab) and achieved a close victory. The Hainaut club concludes 2024 on a good note, launches the Vincent Hognon adventure on the right foot and will be in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France for the second consecutive season.
Enzo PAILOT
The match film:
14′ After a marvelous pass from Boutoutaou, Oyewusi stumbles on the opposing goalkeeper. The ball comes back to Lilepo, who pushes the ball into the back of the net. (0-1)
20′ Michel remains very vigilant and captures the opponent's long shot.
23′ Oyewusi takes Boissier's bell-shaped cross, but Zimmermann is not worried by this header lacking power.
27′ Boissier takes an off-center free kick very well taken at the far post and which sends a huge shiver through the Thionville area.
32′ After good work on the right, Bourgeois tries his luck from the edge of the area, but his shot narrowly escapes the Valencian target.
33′ Lilepo puts it back on Buades, who crosses with first intention. Oyewusi takes a touch with a beautiful half-volley repelled by Zimmermann.
37′ Poha takes Boissier's superb off-center free kick, but Poha's shot hits the bar.
41′ Boutoutaou looks for Lilepo in depth. Despite the opposing recovery, the Congolese pressed and came very close to punishing Zimmermann by countering his restart.
48′ After a magical little bridge on Boutoutaou, Groune sends a missile towards the top corner deflected for a corner by Michel. On the corner, Groune places the ball on the head of Omosanya, who takes advantage of Michel's missed exit to equalize. (1-1)
61′ Groune's incoming corner puts Michel in difficulty, who extends the ball over the bar as required. On the next corner, the Valenciennes goalkeeper misses his exit again but escapes.
63′ Traoré steps back onto his right foot and finds the opposite net with a sublime strike, but the Valenciennes player is flagged offside.
70′ Poinsignon's center passes everyone before being taken over by Luvalu. The shot is fortunately blocked and goes for a corner.
73′ Boissier's distant free kick is magnificently placed on the left foot of Woudenberg, who takes over powerfully with first intention and gives his team the advantage again. (1-2)
76′ Poinsignon tries his luck from outside the area but doesn't hit the target.
82′ Lilepo's distant free kick forces Zimmermann to work.
90+3′ On a very dangerous cross, Buades clears the danger well.
90+7′ After some nice pressing from Oyewusi, Antoine misses the chaos ball.
90+7′ On the next action, Vitoux gets the better of everyone and mystifies Michel with a header. (2-2)
Shots on goal: after the failures of Groune and Wanduka for Thionville, and despite that of Traoré, Boissier sends Valenciennes away with a powerful strike!
THIONVILLE – VAFC : 2-2 (0-1) (4-5 tab)
32nd final of the Coupe de France
Guentrange Stadium, Thionville
Goals: Omosanya (48′), Vitoux (90+7′) for Thionville; Lilepo (14′), Woudenberg (73′) for Valenciennes
Shots on goal: Ponsignon, Luvalu, Jacquel, Rampont (successful), Groune, Wanduka (misses) for Thionville; Flamarion, Oyewusi, Antoine, Buades, Boissier (successful), Traoré (failed) for Valenciennes
Warnings: Moustaid (79′), Poinsignon (85′) for Thionville
VAFC (4-3-3) : Michel – Buades, Poha, Woudenberg, Diomandé – Boissier, Masson, Traoré – Lilepo (Antoine, 89′), Oyewusi, Boutoutaou (Flamarion, 70′)
Substitutes : Camara (g.), Mpata Lama, Kayi Sanda, Niakaté, Moursou, Antoine, Flamarion, Venema
Coach: Vincent Hognon
THIONVILLE (3-4-3): Zimmermann – Bourra (c.), Wanduka, Rampont – Tuvalu, Bourgeois (Botulama, 90′), Atangana (Omosanya, 46′), Poinsignon – Groune, Baradji (Vitoux, 80′), Moustaid (Jacqueline, 90+9′)
Substitutes : Dupuis (g.), Cela, Collet, Lauratet, Omosanya, Botulama, Diabate, Jacquel, Vitoux
Coach: Julien François
Photo credits: Hugo Pfeiffer/Icon Sport
