Opposed to Anglet, an Elite division club, during their 8th final of the Coupe de France, the Green Falcons did not manage to create the feat (2-7). Overtaken in all areas of the game, the Messipontins left the competition without regrets.
The challenge was huge this Saturday, January 11. For the round of 16 of the French Cup, the Green Falcons of Pont-de-Metz hosted the Artzak of Anglet, currently 6th in the Elite division. A gala match at home to start 2025more than two months after the last match at home which ended in a stunning success against Maisons-Laffitte. In the meantime, Antoine Demaret’s men passed two rounds in the Coupe de France, against Asnières then Strasbourg, and took first place in the championship by storm. This meeting against a superior opponent was considered a “bonus match” by the Messipontine coach.
After the first two minutes in favor of the visitors, a first Basque penalty allowed Henri Pépin to throw for the first time, without success. But the power play was valued thanks to Valentin Demaret who opened the scoring (3’31, 1-0). In the process, Alexis Gosselin distinguished himself for the first time by winning his face-to-face with the Angloys striker. Falcons and Artzak pressed their opponents hard when they lost the puck and it was the latter who created a few hot chances, without managing to finish. And facing one of the Elite players with a polished technique, the premises gave in for the first time for the equalizer of Cheng-Yu, one of the three South Korean recruits who recently strengthened the Angloys squad (8’42, 1-1). The Messipontins reacted and tried their luck, like Jérémy Hard and Hugo Bacquet who hit the post.
But quickly, Anglet regained possession of the puck and imposed a sustained pace while patiently building his offensives. On the other hand, Valentin Demaret had the opportunity to score a double but came up against the opposing goalkeeper. On a largely avoidable foul from Eliot Sallendre, who touched the puck as it was leaving the field, the Green Falcons suffered a first numerical inferiority which proved fatal a few seconds later (17’30, 1-2). In difficulty defensively, Antoine Demaret’s players relied on an excellent Alexis Gosselin in goal during the following minutes to stay on course. Multiplying their attempts, the Basques continued to gain strength, achieving clever passing combinations which ended up materializing by the goal of the break (23’27, 1-3). Overall dominated in this first act, the Greens returned to the locker room with a logical disadvantage in the score.
A difficult return from the locker room
The second half began as the first had ended. The Artzak controlled the game, overtaking the Messipont players as did Chao Yu-Hsiang who scored a second personal goal after a solitary raid (27’38, 1-4). Pont-de-Metz took on water at the start of the second half and conceded a fifth (28’17, 1-5) then a sixth goal straight away (30’24, 1-6). Thomas Cognard stopped the bleeding with a winning throw from mid-distance (31’06, 2-6). An unusual action followed: benefiting from an advantage, Anglet took out his goalkeeper to have a numerical superiority and scored against his camp, in the empty goal after a poorly deflected pass. But the goal was refused, the referees considering that Jérémy Hard had touched the puck, therefore making a play and therefore activating the penalty. A new inferiority which was well used by the Basques who widened the gap (34’52, 2-7).
Frustrated and powerless, the locals were no longer able to create games and suffered mastery of their opponent who no longer scored but who seemed to calmly manage the end of the match. Contacts and tension intensified without prisons being applied until, and this is a rare fact, that the Angloys benefit from a penalty. But the latter was stopped in a very good way by Alexis Gosselin. The game was becoming messy: the Artzaks were shooting, missing the target, recovering the puck and so on. The locals’ attempts were rare and, ten minutes from the end of the match, the five goals behind seemed impossible to overcome. The Messipontin goalkeeper made a few last saves to prevent the bill from being heavier but, undeniably less strong than their evening opponentAntoine Demaret’s men left the French Cup. They will now only have the championship to dream of.
Coupe de France, 8th final:
Pont de Metz (N1) – Anglet (Elite): 2-7 (1-3)
Goals for Pont-de-Metz: Valentin Demaret (3’31, 1-0) assisted by Jérémy Hard, Thomas Cognard (31’06, 2-6)
Buts pour Anglet: Kuo Cheng-Yu (8’42, 1-1) assist de Kevin Chazalon, Kevin Chazalon (17’30, 1-2) assist d’Illan Farmer, Chao Yu-Hsiang (23’27, 1- 3), Chao Yu-Hsiang (27’38, 1-4), Paul Albert (28’17, 1-5) assist de Wu Bo-Wei, Chao Yu-Hsiang (30’24, 1-6) assist de Kuo Cheng-Yu, Illan Farmer (34’52, 2-7)
Simon Vasseur
Photo credit: Léandre Leber – Gazettesports.fr
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